Re: Debian Java outlook/ Re: kaffe orphaned?
Bernd Kreimeier Writes:
> Of course, your goals might differ, and with a different
> roadmap, a different policy makes sense. The question I
> tried to ask when the policy proposal came up originally
> was: what is your vision of "Java in Debian"? Is it just
> a bunch of packages to put somewhere, a different compiler
> and runtime environment to manage? Or is it an integral
> part of your ideas of what free, *portable* software should
> look like in 5 or 10 years?
This is a great question. And one I've been waiting to answer
on this list for a long time. Thank you for giving me the perfect
opportunity.
The debian-java list and Debian's interaction with Java has been
the only thing that has come close to pushing me away from Debian
entirely. For the last 2 full years, I've been doing Java
development full time. Excluding a couple months, I've done all
of that development on Solaris and Linux. *MY* vision is one where
a java compiler and jvm are installed by a package system, and run
as part of the "default path" (e.g., there is some kind of
/usr/bin/java and /usr/bin/javac). Next, I would like to see the
ability to install "development" and "runtime" libraries. I do
a LOT of work with servlets. So a "servlets.jar" that contained
the servlet api might be good, Apache JServ would be even better.
I have virtually no need for java programs most of the time. A
java version of ls, find, tar, etc, would not help me at all.
Something libc-like besides 'java.*' class libraries might or might
not help me. (I find Sun's Java libraries, sufficient for most of
my needs.)
I understand how Sun's proprietary license is in very direct
opposition to Debian policy. If kaffe or Japhar ever progress to
something I can use, I will. (And yes, I've tried Kaffe recently
and it does NOT WORK for my application.) I have finally decided
that I will continue to use Debian, because of all the other reasons
I have used it for years. As far as doing Java stuff. I just
install all my Java utilities/libraries by hand.
I mostly lurk on debian-java, because I have an interest in both.
However, I have no immediate hope of those two ever meeting. If
they do, great. If not, I'll continue to install the JDK and Jserv
myself.
---- Cris J H
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