FW: Sun revokes FreeBSD license for Java

[Panagiotis Astithas]

Achilleus Mantzios wrote:
> O Panagiotis Astithas έγραψε στις Jan 7, 2005 :
> 
> 
>>Achilleus Mantzios wrote:
>>
>>>First off, Good Year to anyone.
>>>
>>>I'd like to share my thoughts on the FreeBSD binary java distribution
>>>and the FreeBSD Foundation issue.
>>>
>>>I pretty much acklowledge the efforts of the FBSDF, as well as
>>>that the diablo jdk13 is the only one achievement of the FBSDF, at least 
>>>as it presented
>>>in their site. Also ,the funding of Alexey's work was essential
>>>in the viability of the jdk14 port.
>>>
>>>However, as another person said, freebsd users
>>>only use the port and not the binary.
>>>And taking into account the many areas of need in the rest of
>>>the system in its current status (5-STABLE, CURRENT),
>>>i think it would make sense to save the money that was supposed
>>>to go to SUN, for funding development of other areas in the system.
>>>
>>>Most users are quite happy with jdk14 i suppose.
>>
>>Although I am one of those users happily using the jdk14 port, I can't 
>>say that I find the situation satisfying. When I am trying to pitch a 
>>Java solution on FreeBSD to a customer I have to ask them to have the 
>>jdk preinstalled for me, since I can't legally redistribute it. Clients 
>>who don't have an existing FreeBSD installation or don't care about the 
>>solution's underlying OS (which is why they usually pick Java in the 
>>first place), wonder why on earth they should not go with Linux instead.
> 
> 
> If they dont already have an existing FreeBSD installation, then
> probably it makes zero sense to have one just for deploying a java app.
> And to go further, If they dont already have an existing linux 
> installation, the analogy still holds.
> It depends on the nature of the application.

Well, I understand and partly agree with your point, but the reason 
Linux or FreeBSD is picked for server applications is mostly cost. So if 
a company is buying a new system (hardware+software+services) and its 
RFP is evidently cost-sensitive, they may well pick a Linux/FreeBSD box 
to host a Java solution (and they do tend to ask for Java these days, 
nothing more, nothing less). What I am saying is that the current 
situation as it holds favors Linux, unfortunately.

> Lets say, If its a large system and the particular customer
> is a FreeBSD user already, then it wouldn't cost too much
> to have their admin (or you) spend 2 hours building jdk14.
> Otherwise if the customer has decided to go with his/her
> (other) OS of choice, then he/she is totally enitled to live
> with it.

In this case certainly. But I am thinking of a different scenario, as I 
tried to explain above. New systems that perform new tasks and are not 
necessarily going to be hosted together with existing infrastructue. Or 
even cases where an aging system is being retired and one looks for a 
modern replacement. Modernity is mostly perception. Java is modern 
enough. Linux is modern enough. If FreeBSD can tug along, it could steal 
some of that modern aura.

Cheers,
Panagiotis