Open-source software, best exemplified by the Linux operating system, holds the promise of fast innovation, widespread adoption and a lively developer community. But Sun, which invented and oversees Java, has expressed worries that making it open-source software could threaten its essential promise of compatibility.
At a debate here at the JavaOne conference last week, thousands gathered to hear Sun and others concerned with Java grapple with the issue. At stake is whether Java will become a full-fledged part of the open-source realm. If it does, that could let Java allies or foes manipulate it for their own ends. If it doesn't, open-source programmers might instead adopt rival .Net technology from Microsoft.
IBM, one of Sun's most powerful Java partners, reignited the smoldering question in an open letter in February that said Sun should release Java as open-source software. On Tuesday, Sun CEO Scott McNealy lashed back with an accusation that IBM has "Java envy" and should release its own intellectual property as open-source software.
Sun sees cautionary tales in Unix and Linux, software with loose controls that ended up as different variations headed in incompatible directions.
"I lived through the Unix wars," James Gosling, the prime Java creator and a Sun vice president, said at the debate. "I love Linux to bits, but they've got the same problem all over again. They've got all these distributions, and they're really close, but they're just different enough to be a pain in the butt."
But others at the debate suggested Sun could find a way to embrace open-source without crippling Java. The software can be covered by open-source licenses, while other mechanisms can be used to ensure compatibility, said Larry Lessig, a Stanford law professor and a board member of the Electronic Frontier Foundation.
Lessig urged Sun to stay away from tinkering with existing open-source licenses to try to address the need for compatibility. "The law has tools -- independent of open-source and free software licenses -- for achieving compatibility without mucking up the free software licenses," he said.
There's pressure on the Java community to work out an accommodation, said Tim O'Reilly, the founder of O'Reilly Media. On Wednesday, Novell released version 1.0 of Mono, an open-source implementation of Microsoft's .Net software. In many regards, Mono is a clone of Java, which is software that lets a single program -- written in the Java programming language -- run on several computers.
"There is an elephant in the room -- the fact that on Linux, the Mono project is implementing .Net, not Java. Microsoft does have a foot in the door," O'Reilly said.
If you love it, set it free?
Open-source software may be freely seen, modified and redistributed by anyone. Java, in contrast, is controlled by the Sun-led Java Community Process, and Java products must pass compatibility tests. Developers and groups that want to contribute software changes to Java join the JCP and sign a legal agreement saying they will abide by its procedures.
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