Sun Microsystems has announced plans to release the Java programming language under an open-source license in the coming months.
However, according to Sun’s Open Source Chief, Simon Phipps, the company is currently facing two major challenges regarding the “opening” of Java’s source code: first, how to ensure Java is compatible with other platforms; and second, how to prevent any company from exploiting this source code for their own development.
Simon Phipps also acknowledged that ensuring these two factors is quite difficult, as the Java market is a large and very successful “open” market, with many software companies catering to various businesses.
Since May 2006, Sun has declared its intention to “open” Java’s source code. This announcement came just a month after the new CEO of Sun, Jonathan Schwartz, took over from his predecessor, Scott McNealy.
Simon Phipps noted that initially, Sun may not see any immediate benefits from opening Java’s source code, but in the long run, as the Java source code is improved and widely accepted, it will create numerous opportunities for the company.
Many observers believe that Sun’s new move is still not particularly proactive and appears somewhat slow compared to the current landscape, as Microsoft has gained significant advantages with its .NET programming language and C#.
