Apache to cleanroom Java with Sun's blessing

THE FOLKS at Sun might have found a way to please the Open Source movement while ensuring that Java doesn't "fork" into several incompatible versions like it happened years ago with Microsoft's failed attempt to "derail java" with their windows-only extensions to the spec that broke Java's "write once, run anywhere" appeal and led to a long legal battle between the firms.

In a June 20, 1996, memo entitled "windows & internet issues" Microsoft's then-VP Paul Maritz explained that it was necessary for the firm to "fundamentally blunt Java/AWT momentum" in order to "protect our core asset Windows - the thing we get paid $s for". So one can understand Sun's fears of "embrace and extend" approaches to the platform.

The Apache Foundation, which oversees development of the evermore popular Apache httpd open source web server -along with several other likewise open projects- has announced its intention to develop a "clean room implementation" of Java that is compatible with Sun's official specs and official VM. This project has apparently received Sun's blessing. Geir Magnusson from Apache will even give a talk about the compatible 'Harmony' Java VM at the upcoming JavaOne 2005 event hosted by Sun. This will surely help quiet the usual complainers for whom even the full J2SE 6.0 source code release under the JCP programme was considered 'not enough'.

This compatible Java development under a different license is possible, in part, due to the recent changes to the licensing rules for the Java2 Standard Edition version 5.0 (J2SE 5.0 in sunspeak), and the more open Java Community Process. Graham Hamilton, Sun VP said in his blog: "The licensing rules for J2SE 5.0 were carefully designed to allow independent, compatible open-source implementations of the J2SE specification".

The Apache Foundation's 'Project Harmony' will be compatible with Sun's official specs, starting with the latest Java2 5.0, and such compatibility will guaranteed because such compatible Java VM will be tested with Sun's Java Technology Compatibility Kit ( TCK), a suite of tests, tools and documentation that determines whether or not a product complies with a particular Java technology specification. Sun's TCKs are available free of cost to non-profits like the Apache Foundation. According to the project FAQ, developers from the Kaffe and Classpath java compatible projects are joining and helping Apache's effort.

Hundreds, if not thousands of open source projects are already written in Java, and it's expected that a compatible, open source implementation of Sun's VM will increase its adoption. µ