Thursday, 15 September 2011
My Interview with MyFear
I was humbled to be interviwed as part of MyFear's Java Hero's series - If you want to know some of my motivations then go here
Saturday, 10 September 2011
The OpenJDK as the default Java on Linux
Hi All, (this post is x-posted to the java7developer blog and the ljc blog)
Linux users who need to use the proprietary parts of the Oracle JDK 6 or Oracle JDK 7 binaries can of course as usual simply get the gratis download at http://oracle.com/java under the same terms as users on other platforms. However, if it is due to a 'bug' that is discovered I strongly encourage those users to submit a bug report to the OpenJDK project, so that any issues can be fixed for all of us.
Recently I've received a bunch of private correspondence from people confused/worried over the change in the default Java packaging for Linux. For many Linux distributions, the official Sun/Oracle version of Java has been packaged up as the default Java for the platform. However, due to a recent licensing change, this will no longer be the case! So, is this a positive or a negative thing for the Java and open source ecosystem? Read on for my take on it :-)
Background
Dalibor Topic announced that With Java SE 7 and JDK 7 being released, and with OpenJDK as the official Java SE 7 reference implementation, that it was finally time to retire the non open source "Operating System Distributor License for Java" (DLJ).
What does it mean for me?
The knock on effect of this is that Linux distributions will on longer package Oracle's Java (== OpenJDK wrapped up in some proprietary bits and pieces) as the default Java. This can/will cause problems for some Java users initially as there are a smattering of bugs (especially in the Swing UI libs) still left in the OpenJDK that affect programs like PCGen. However, some Linux distributions had already taken this path some years ago, most notably Ubuntu and the last remaining bugs are being cleaned up pretty quickly.
Positive or Negative?
Overall, I think this is a positive step in the right direction for free and open Java on Linux platforms. This sentiment was welcomed by well known open source advocate Simon Phipps in a twitter post. The fact the the OpenJDK is now the reference implementation (combined with efforts to open up the issue tracker for the OpenJDK) means that means that a vast host of Java/Linux end users can now directly improve 'official Java' for all of us.
Background
Dalibor Topic announced that With Java SE 7 and JDK 7 being released, and with OpenJDK as the official Java SE 7 reference implementation, that it was finally time to retire the non open source "Operating System Distributor License for Java" (DLJ).
What does it mean for me?
The knock on effect of this is that Linux distributions will on longer package Oracle's Java (== OpenJDK wrapped up in some proprietary bits and pieces) as the default Java. This can/will cause problems for some Java users initially as there are a smattering of bugs (especially in the Swing UI libs) still left in the OpenJDK that affect programs like PCGen. However, some Linux distributions had already taken this path some years ago, most notably Ubuntu and the last remaining bugs are being cleaned up pretty quickly.
Positive or Negative?
Overall, I think this is a positive step in the right direction for free and open Java on Linux platforms. This sentiment was welcomed by well known open source advocate Simon Phipps in a twitter post. The fact the the OpenJDK is now the reference implementation (combined with efforts to open up the issue tracker for the OpenJDK) means that means that a vast host of Java/Linux end users can now directly improve 'official Java' for all of us.
I want the Oracle version!
Linux users who need to use the proprietary parts of the Oracle JDK 6 or Oracle JDK 7 binaries can of course as usual simply get the gratis download at http://oracle.com/java under the same terms as users on other platforms. However, if it is due to a 'bug' that is discovered I strongly encourage those users to submit a bug report to the OpenJDK project, so that any issues can be fixed for all of us.
Opinions and further questions are welcome!
Thanks,
Martijn
Thursday, 1 September 2011
JavaOne schedule
Here is my JavaOne schedule: I can't mimic the nice colouring that Steve On Java has, but hey :-).
Please note the JCP EC meeting is open and free for all to join (Sunday 15:45) - we need the voice of the community there, so come along!
I'll actually be speaking at:
Let me know if you want to catch up! I'll be fairly flexible about turning up to most sessions, the benefit of attending a conference like JavaOne is as much isn't catching up with friends an colleagues as much as anything else :-)
Please note the JCP EC meeting is open and free for all to join (Sunday 15:45) - we need the voice of the community there, so come along!
I'll actually be speaking at:
- 30440 - Java User Groups and the JCP (Sunday 14:30)
- 23647 - JCP and the Developer Community (Monday 11:00)
- 23641 - Meet the Executive Committee Candidates (Monday 1900)
- 23645 - Lightning Talks: JSRs in Progress (Wednesday 0830)
- 25303 - The Diabolical Developer (Redux) (Wednesday 1500)
- 25303 - The Diabolical Developer (Redux) - repeat! (Wednesday 1630)
- 37780 - Java Community Keynote (Thursday 0845)
Let me know if you want to catch up! I'll be fairly flexible about turning up to most sessions, the benefit of attending a conference like JavaOne is as much isn't catching up with friends an colleagues as much as anything else :-)
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