i know about python, ruby, perl etc.. but is java a really open source programming language? because i searched on google too but didnt get proper answer. so asking here
A:
Yes, or it will be eventually (there may still be some things they're working on replacing since they were used under licence). Sun committed to making it open source and you can download it from them. Check out OpenJDK.
paxdiablo
2010-01-08 21:20:42
This answer is talking about the Development Kit, the question asks about the language.
Rob Oxspring
2010-01-08 23:52:47
Well, I don't think that actually makes sense, @Rob. All *languages* would be open source since they're specified (the source being the specs on how things work, for example ISO C, the language, is open source because of the C99 standard). It makes far more sense to talk about the source code for an implementation of a language being open source. If you're talking about whether a language allows community input on its evolution, that might make sense but, since the OP accepted this answer, I'm going to assume my interpretation was the correct one :-)
paxdiablo
2010-01-10 06:27:31
+11
A:
A programming language isn't in it self open source or not, but an implementation of it might be. Yes, there are open source implementations of Java. Sun's Java implementation (the most popular one), is one of them.
kusma
2010-01-08 21:21:04
Well, the current "JDK6" is "disclosed" source (under JRL, JIUL, and probably others). OpenJDK (6-open and 7) are GPL (optionally with the CLASSPATH exception).
Tom Hawtin - tackline
2010-01-08 22:05:34
@Tom - I think you're missing the point - the question is asking about the language and not about the runtime or development kit implementations.
Rob Oxspring
2010-01-08 23:51:09
+3
A:
The "official" SUN implementation of the language itself is not, but there is a community-driven process (not sure how well it works) for suggestions to improve the language - the Java Community Process. There are also open implementations of the Java development tools and runtime, such as OpenJDK.
Thomas Owens
2010-01-08 21:21:33
You may want to clarify what you mean by official. Sun itself is driving the OpenJDK effort although whether that continues under Oracle, I don't know.
paxdiablo
2010-01-08 21:26:00
A:
OpenJDK after you download it in a src folder you have windows,solaris,share,linux in the share folder, you can find classes. There you can see the source code of, lets say JButton.
HJ-INCPP
2010-03-09 22:36:20
+1
A:
The phrase "Java Programming Language" refers to the specification as provided by Sun (now oracle). Sun provides a reference implementation of Java Virtual Machine and Java Compiler. Both of which are not open source (at least not fully like say Python).
However OpenJDK for example is a complete open-source implementation of JAVA programming language. There might be more as well.
Most of the programmers think of Java as a programming language provided by Sun. I think Sun only provides the language specification implementation can be done by anyone under any license.
Akshar Prabhu Desai
2010-08-25 18:13:31