Apache Announces J2EE Project

AS YOU MAY have heard by now, the Apache Software Foundation has initiated a project to develop an open source, Apache-licensed implementation of the J2EE specification. In addition, the project is committed to certifying the implementation as J2EE compliant. This is an ambitious goal and will present a formidable challenge for the people involved, given the wide range of technologies covered by the specification.

The project (tentatively named "Apache Geronimo") builds upon the many Java projects at the Apache Software Foundation. In addition, the project is bringing together leading members of the Castor, JBoss, MX4J and OpenEJB communities. We would like to extend an open invitation to everyone involved in the J2EE space, both commercial entities and talented individuals, to join the community and build a world-class J2EE implementation.

The Apache Software Foundation is in a unique position to build a J2EE compliant platform. Our non-profit, charity status, and our relationship with Sun Microsystems, provides the Foundation with access to the J2EE TCKs, making it possible to achieve certification. In addition, our flexible and unrestrictive licensing makes it possible for a wide variety of participants to assist in the development of Apache Geronimo, and to build their own solutions upon the platform.

Apache Geronimo has been launched within the Apache Incubator. You can find more information about the Incubator at http://incubator.apache.org/. To find out more about this project or if you would like to become involved, please send email to the incubator mailing list: general@incubator.apache.org

On behalf of the Apache Geronimo Team,

Greg Stein,
Chairman of the Apache Software Foundation