Sun JavaFx

Jim Thompson jim at netgate.com
Thu May 10 14:17:33 CEST 2007


Sander van Grieken wrote:
>> Sander van Grieken wrote:
>>>>> I think (hope?) it is the new appearance of Savaje platform (+ JavaFX
>>>>> scripting).
>>>> That's correct. This is going to be very cool stuff. And the Neo is
>>>> definitely very high on the list of devices I want to see this running
>>>> on.
>>> If I understand correctly, JavaFX Script is going to be open source, but
>>> JavaFX Script is not the whole of the 'JavaFX family'.
>>>
>>> Does this mean there will be non-open sourced parts in the stack
>>> necessary
>>> to use JavaFX Script?
>> Sun has already said that JavaFX Mobile (the stuff you need for the
>> phone) will be GPLed.
>>
>> So.. "no".

Ya know, I *knew* that if I didn't support the statement with URLs that 
someone would get it all wrong.  Not you, Sander, (though receiving four 
copies of your message was a bit much), but the response from Gabriel 
kinda pissed in my Wheaties.

> Well, this is not exactly true. Sun indeed said explicitly that
> JavaFX-Script will be GPLd, but regarding JavaFX-Mobile, I read the
> following :
> 
> "JavaFX Mobile, Sun's software system for mobile devices, is available via
> OEM license to carriers, handset manufacturers and others seeking a
> branded relationship with consumers"
> 
> source : http://www.sun.com/software/javafx/index.jsp

Of course it is, since Sun owns the Copyright, they can distribute 
non-GPL versions of the code to those who want them (and are willing to 
pay.)  MySQL does this too.

OTOH:

"Sun will ship a "pre-integrated," GPL-licensable, Linux- and Java-based 
operating system software reference design for mobile phones, it 
announced at its JavaOne conference today in San Francisco. "

"All JavaFX products will be available under the GNU GPL, Sun said."
http://www.linuxdevices.com/news/NS7539760574.html

---
"Sun also announced that the company is planning on open sourcing JavaFX 
Script. "We plan to open source all of JavaFX as we work through the 
program," said Green. The governance, license, and community models will 
be worked out as the company gets closer to delivering these products. 
"Sun will release the source code of JavaFX Script to let other 
companies create web authoring tools using it. Sun, too, intends to 
create scripting tools for content authoring," Green said"

"The alpha code that Sun demonstrated during Tuesday morning's general 
session is now available at the Project openjfx.org site. Sun will be 
enhancing and expanding this scripting language and encourages 
developers to join its community and send in feedback."
http://java.sun.com/javaone/sf/2007/articles/tuesday_gs.jsp

---

And you could have *AT LEAST* quoted the entire paragraph of the press 
release:  http://www.sun.com/aboutsun/pr/2007-05/sunflash.20070508.1.xml

The first of these, JavaFX Mobile, is a complete mobile phone software 
system available via OEM license to carriers, content owners and 
consumer electronics manufacturers. JavaFX leverages the security and 
ubiquity of the Java platform and will support all content and 
applications currently available across the billions of Java 
technology-based devices in the world today. Sun today also previewed 
JavaFX Script, a new scripting language targeted at creative 
professionals, which will help to radically simplify the process of 
creating and distributing interactive content that spans all Java 
technology enabled platforms, from handsets to set tops, laptops to 
dashboards (see separate announcement). ***All JavaFX software, like all 
Java software at Sun, will be available to the free and open source 
community via the popular GNU General Public License (GPL) license.***

(emphasis mine)

Me, I think Java is a four-letter word (and I was @ Sun when it was 
invented), but I'm *certain* that Sun understands that it has made a 
commitment to commit all of its software technology to FOSS, and this 
includes new technologies.

Or, you could listen to/watch the webcast where Rich Green is talking 
all about how they prefer the GPL and then segues into announcing that 
Java has been open sourced (under the GPL),

Finally, Noel Poore and I used to work at Tadpole Technology, Plc 
together.  (George Grey was the original Founder and CEO at both Tadpole 
and SavaJe.)  If you don't know who Noel is, I suggest you check the 
SavaJe 'management' web page.

Or my latest blog post: http://www.smallworks.com/archives/00000489.htm

(And yes, I did exchange email with Noel today.)

Or you could continue to FUD.  With the 20/20 hindsight of history, it 
turns out that ESR was wrong about many things, including being dead 
wrong about Sun.

Sun *owns* the copyright to all of Java, and can offer it under a 
non-GPL license.  Who might want to *pay* Sun for Free Software?

Motorola, for one.   Ed Zander (CEO of MOT, ex-COO of Sun) and McNeally 
(ex-CEO of Sun) golf together.  Eric Schmidt (CEO of Google) used to 
work for McNeally and with Zander.

If you *don't* think that the deal to get Java FX Mobile on MOT's 
handsets was done prior to this announcement, and you don't think that 
Google wouldn't tie into that deal, well, if you don't, then you don't 
understand how these deals are done.

I can understand how some would be upset at Sun releasing a 
'replacement' for OpenMoko, especially on the FIC Neo1973.

I can also understand that the bigger market is better as long as the 
phone still runs (or can be made to run) Free Software.

Jim




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