Date: Fri, 23 Oct 1998 18:54:28 -0700
To: lwn@lwn.net
From: Steve Byrne <sbb@freegate.com>
Subject: Sun licenses JDK 1.2 source code to Linux porting team

I posted an article on Slashdot, but I thought you also ought
to be aware of this:

Sun has licensed the Linux Java porting team to have access to the
1.2 source base, and the 1.2 Java Compatibility Kit test suite.
This puts the Linux porting team on an equal footing with all of
the other commerical source licensees of the JDK, in terms of 
being able to validate and certify that the Linux port is 
100% Java Compatible (which apparently the Microsoft JDK 
still isn't). 

The porting effort itself is quite far along, with most features
already working.  A couple of areas (audio, and the color matching
system) are still in need of being ported, but the rest of the
system is working.  

Personally, I'm really excited about this change in Sun's attitude
towards the Linux community.  They've been working behind the scenes
trying to make the source code and JCK available for many months now, and
now they are.  They've also loaned some hardware to the porting team to
help ensure that Linux JDK runs (and runs well) on as many Linux platforms
as possible.

I think that JDK 1.2 will have significant impact on the
popularity of Java, and I'm very happy that I can be a part of
making it a reality on the Linux platform in a timely manner.

[Please direct any correspondence to my home address: sbb@gnu.org]

Steve