Re: Debian Java outlook

[Jim Franklin <jfranklin@etworld.com>]

Hi Stephane,
  It has been my experience that there are two types of engineers in the
world.  The ones who tell you why something can't be done and the ones
who make the concept happen.  My letter to you folks was to open up
possibilities.  Good luck.

Jim

Stephane Bortzmeyer wrote:
> 
> On Friday 10 September 1999, at 10 h 50, the keyboard of Jim Franklin
> <jfranklin@etworld.com> wrote:
> 
> >   Perhaps the question of a "Debian Java Policy" might be handled as
> > part of the creation of a nonexistent non-profit debian-java
> > fellowship/organization/sub-debian_organization.
> 
> Well, this is quite far-fetched. May be smaller goals first?
> 
> > )take an inventory of what you have at this moment -businesses that
> > don't occasionally take inventory usually go bankrupt.  The inventory
> > should include people/members and product(packages).
> 
> Jules Bean suggested to do such a list but gave in, by lack of free time.
> Volunteers are welcome.
> 
> > )create a "Debian Java Policy" -policies by nature are usually
> > restrictive, and should be kept as small as possible.
> 
> We are working on it. See the java-common package. I agree it is a good thing
> for it to be small: some issues ae clearly unresolved (core classes...) and
> are therefore left out.
> 
> It is always possible that someone is stupid enough to mock the proposed
> policy from its size ("All this time for a page and a half!") but we'll ignore
> him.
> 
> > An example of
> > policy would be "Packages must adhere to the GPL to be included in
> > main."
> 
> On this specific point, there is nothing related with Java. Policy (Debian
> general policy, not Java policy) just say you have to be DFSG-free to get into
> main, wether you are written in Java, Ruby or Scheme.
> 
> > )public relations and customer relations -without PR there won't be an
> > influx of new debian-java developers and I have heard complaints on the
> > mailing list that there aren't enough developers at java-debian.  PR can
> > be as simple as the statement "debian-java rocks"
> 
> At the present time, it is false. debian-java more or less sucks. Until we (note the plural) change it, I will not write a Press Release "Debian is the best Java platform". I abide by the social contract and I am therefore entitled to realism, modesty and telling the truth to the users.