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Re: Java

Alex Malinovich escribió:


On Sat, 2004-12-11 at 16:52 +0000, Pedro M (Morphix User) wrote:

Alex Malinovich escribió:

--snip--
Can anyone create the .deb package, so everybody can download it using apt-get install.
I think we can create a program to install a Java Mozilla Plug-in and include in it the JRE. If one creates a program, can package with it the Sun's JRE. 

See http://wiki.debian.net/index.cgi?JRE


(Note: Taking this back to the mailing list so others can benefit from
the discussion as well.)

The requirements for redistributing the JRE are very specific. You can
not also distribute something that is meant to supersede the
functionality of the JRE. Since Debian distributes Kaffe, we would be
violating the license.
We would agree with other organization to include its repositories in sources.list 
(co-official repository for Java).


Also, one of the other requirements is that you redistribute the JRE
with software that substantially adds to its functionality. As Mozilla
USES the JRE, but in no way ADDS to it, this would also be a violation
of the agreement. (The applets that the JRE might end up running THROUGH
Mozilla would add to it, but since Mozilla doesn't we cannot package the
two together.)

Because of this, the only way a non-Debian package could include the JRE
would be if it was a native Java program being packaged for Debian.
This is a good idea. What about a Java program that could optionally abled or disabled by the user ???. It could include a JRE to run. 


But
by doing this we would lose the benefit of distributing the JRE because
most people would want just the JRE and NOT the program that it comes
with.
It could be an ornamental (http://www.wiktionary.org/wiki/Ornamental ) program. This is, only usefull enough to create a package (some limited/ornamental functionalities/usefullness). 


And, finally, the biggest problem is that the JRE license states that
any software you distribute WITH the JRE must be under a license that
"protects Sun's interests consistent with the terms contained in" their
license. In other words, you can NOT distribute a GPL'd program with the
JRE.


Really, their license is a bad thing ;(
But an ornamental program would not be interesting for Sun ;) Nor for us, excepting to package JRE in Debian ;) 

On the other hand, we would claim a similar status to Windows:
"On Microsoft Windows platforms, but not in Linux, the Sun's Java 2 Runtime Environment's installer automatically installs the java and javaw application launchers in a location that's on the operating system's default system path. That means you don't have to worry about finding the launchers to start your application, and you don't have to provide instructions to your users for fiddling with the paths on their systems".
This is a common path for all the Unices, including Linux ( if this really exists, include this information in the Sun's webpage). 

Regards.
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