[OpenIndiana-discuss] Java 7

[Ken Gunderson]

On Sun, 2011-07-31 at 09:09 -0700, Gary Driggs wrote:
> If it's been five years in the making then that would suggest that not many Java VM and API developers were let go during the acquisition of Sun. Or were they? http://www.eweekeurope.co.uk/news/apache-developers-java-7-contains-bugs-35619. But I have to wonder who would be so bold or ignorant as to put a dot zero release of anything in to production right away anyhow?
> 
> Regardless, this whole anti-closed source drum beating reminds me of a Usenix conference I went to ten or more years ago. The GNU zealots kept taking the open mic every chance they got and -- regardless of relevancy to the subject at hand -- would start beating their licensing drum. It became especially tedious when they'd show up at the BSD related events and tried to argue with the BSD users and devs.
> 
> So I'm not saying I'm against open source (who is?) but I feel that every business has a choice over which licensing model is most appropriate for their products and profitability. Long time Solaris users have been around before Solaris was ever open sourced. Most of us didn't start using OpenSolaris because someone tacked "open" in front of its name -- we chose it for its innovation. It sounds to me as if Oracle has decided to keep its competitors in the OS market from using their innovations before they can release their own production ready OS. If that's unnerving to you, you're welcome to look elsewhere as you also have a choice.
> 
> But I should remind everyone that one of the most important  parts of being a community member and advocate (open source or not) is being respectful of others. And bashing Oracle at very turn is not going to convince anyone to join your cause -- especially considering that there are current and ex Oracle employees and customers contributing to the community. Thankfully, most of us are familiar with the ability to delete an email without responding to it -- as you're certainly welcome to do with this one.
> 
> kind regards,
> Gary

Or even choose to reply...

The problem in this instance is that Sun DID open source many cool
things and post Sun take over Oracle has been systematically "undoing"
Sun's open source gifting via a variety of "innovative" tactics at
pretty much every chance they can, often in tandem with exorbitant
increases in licensing fees.  And for that they have earned much well
deserved criticism. 

Additionally, it would be a far stretch to construe criticism of Oracle
corporate policies enacted by upper management to extend to rank and
file employees who are so far down the food chain I doubt said policy
makers even know they exist.  

My $0.02.

-- 
Regards-- Ken Gunderson