Hi Seth, I think HURD has potential from the fact that it is an operating system rather than a language. Implementation of the java 2.0 specs may not be constrained by sun's license, although I'm not sure.
Jim Seth R Arnold wrote: > > John, there is one point you raised I am not sure I agree with: > > > 8. A HURD VM is possible due to the nature of its message passing system > > and would be the most reasonable course to pursue for the development of > > portable software. This course would basically make Java obsolete, and > > would allow the use of many types of inexpensive hardware solutions to > > replace Sun's expensive servers and workstations. This is what they are > > concerned about. > > Java is being taught in many schools, mine included, as the default > language. Our profs do not mind if we use other languages, but all example > code, all example everything, the default IDE in the labs, EVERYTHING, is > java. That makes for a few years of CS students that know nothing but Java. > (Depressing..) > > Java has spread to Mac, to os/2 (I hope), win32, win3.1, free unix, > commercial unix, practically every platform. > > I have a hard time believing that one GNU Hurd VM module will suddenly cause > all that momentum to go away. (Especially, if Ean has it right -- building a > VM for Hurd, if built from the java 2.0 specs, is going to fall under the > Derivitive Works section of SCSL. And be not free.) > > Some very nice points, but I doubt the hurd will be able to serve as the > magic bullet. > > comments? > > On Wed, Sep 15, 1999 at 05:44:56PM -0500, John Foster wrote: > > I have been watching this thread for some time and feel that some > > reality is in order for anyone interested in this subject. > > > > My 2 cents worth: > > > > 1. Sun and all other commercial ventures exist solely for the purpose of > > making money. They will sometimes do some things that seem to be for the > > "good of mankind", but those things generally have some "lucrative" > > aspect to them (read SCSL). > > > > 2. The aspect of making money is not "a bad thing" in itself. The > > acquisition of profit by using deceptive tactics is "a bad thing". > > 3. The owner of any original patent/copyright license has the right to > > alter that patent at will. For instance if Sun decides to not make > > StarOffice available under the SCSL they do have the right, because they > > bought it, to make StarOffice a commercial package. They can do so at > > will. > > > > 4. Technically/legally Sun or Microsoft, or AOL and many others, could > > alter the terms of the current license structures so that "open source" > > "free" software ceases to exist. If Linas Torvalds decided that the next > > kernel version of Linux was not to be GPL software, he has the right to > > do it. Does that shock you? If it does then you need to read up on the > > U.S. patent and trademark guidelines as they apply to intellectual > > property, especially software. > > > > 5. There is a huge movement in Europe to keep software patents out of > > the legal system. I do not think they will be successful. However, > > "THE ACTIONS TAKEN BY ALL INTERESTED PEOPLE WITH REGARD TO SUN'S SCSL > > AND THE APPLICATION OF IT'S GUIDELINES WILL SET A PRECEDENT FOR YEARS TO > > COME" > > > > 6. In my opinion "the best interests of free open source software will > > be served by pushing forward with development of the GNU HURD system and > > the implementation of a HURD Virtual Machine language that has all the > > capabilities of Java as it is now, but is more likely to remain free. > > > > 7. If Debian and all the other Linux communities continue to put forth > > free software that is portable to all hardware systems they represent a > > serious threat to all commercial software. > > > > 8. A HURD VM is possible due to the nature of its message passing system > > and would be the most reasonable course to pursue for the development of > > portable software. This course would basically make Java obsolete, and > > would allow the use of many types of inexpensive hardware solutions to > > replace Sun's expensive servers and workstations. This is what they are > > concerned about. > > > > All my best wishes to the people who assist in the "Free Software" > > movement, and especially to those of you that do the actual development > > of applications. > > -- > > John Foster > > AdVance-Computing Systems > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > ICQ# 19460173 > > > > > > -- > > To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > -- > Seth Arnold | http://www.willamette.edu/~sarnold/ > Hate spam? See http://maps.vix.com/rbl/ for help > Hi! I'm a .signature virus! Copy me into > your ~/.signature to help me spread! > > -- > To UNSUBSCRIBE, email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > with a subject of "unsubscribe". Trouble? Contact [EMAIL PROTECTED]
