Java Goes Open Source
Java has been the most popular programming language since it was launched by Sun Microsystems. But the cost of this software made it somewhat less popular to the world. Now for our surprise sun has made java an open source. It’s a fact, and a good one, that java, your favorite programming language has been turned into an open source by the owner, Sun Microsystems. Now most of you must be wondering that what an open source is. An open source is something that is public and can be used by anyone on the internet.
Basically Sun has put java under public domain. Java can now be downloaded by any internet user. The legal procedure involved is completed with the help of a GPL general public license. It means that the software developers or the programmers in this field can now have the liberty to flexibly use java and they can develop programming codes with complete freedom. They are also allowed making suitable modifications to the language also. Thus it is very god news for those who love to do research and development work on IT languages.
The Sun Microsystems have been vastly profited with the making of java as an open source. The company now has reputation of a service provider which is looked upon by others in the competition. Linux too had made Solaris an open source recently. But Sun’s decision to make java an open source hasn’t been influenced from Linux decision. This procedure has broken all the shackles for Sun as it can now go for further research in object oriented programming. Consumer based programming, especially mobile phone programming will be the next thing the will look at.
Now let us understand what GPL is. GPL is a license according to which any of the products produced under this license is considered to be an open source and hence is available to all. Prior to being an open source, the software developers who used java had to give a license to the Sun Microsystems. Thus you can think how easy Sun has been on your pocket by doing so.
This open source thing has made it easy to bundle java with other operating systems like Linux and UNIX providing unthinkable opportunities to the programmers. Hence we would like to see more of these declarations coming from software legends like Sun did for us.
by Camila 19 years ago