Comments on: Java’s Code is Available http://www.symphonious.net/2004/03/26/javas-code-is-available/ Living in a state of accord. Fri, 05 Dec 2008 04:41:20 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Keith Lea http://www.symphonious.net/2004/03/26/javas-code-is-available/#comment-67 Keith Lea Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=65#comment-67 It's easy to look at the code and modify it, but it's not as easy to actually test that code. You need to mess with bootclasspaths and things like that. And even if you do submit patches, you can't include patched versions of JDK classes in your application, nor can you distribute your patches. No one could create a "development version" of the JDK that included other people's patches, and that could be distributed for use with other applications. I think Scott's response to IBM was silly, since (1) IBM offered to release the source to their JVM, and (2) Sun doesn't make money off of the JDK like IBM does from DB2. It’s easy to look at the code and modify it, but it’s not as easy to actually test that code. You need to mess with bootclasspaths and things like that. And even if you do submit patches, you can’t include patched versions of JDK classes in your application, nor can you distribute your patches. No one could create a “development version” of the JDK that included other people’s patches, and that could be distributed for use with other applications.

I think Scott’s response to IBM was silly, since (1) IBM offered to release the source to their JVM, and (2) Sun doesn’t make money off of the JDK like IBM does from DB2.

]]> By: Tim Vernum http://www.symphonious.net/2004/03/26/javas-code-is-available/#comment-68 Tim Vernum Tue, 30 Nov 1999 00:00:00 +0000 http://localhost/wordpress/?p=65#comment-68 So, care to enlighten me as to how open sourcing java will magically make it easier to test your patches? So, care to enlighten me as to how open sourcing java will magically make it easier to test your patches?

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