does anyone know what the deal is with the Java Desktop ? has anyone used it yet ?

OSNews has an interview with the Sun Java Desktop Group. "[T]he Java Desktop System is envisioned as a set of applications that reside above the OS layer. While the first version of JDS is built on top of SuSE Linux Desktop 1.0, that does not mean that in the future there will not be versions of JDS running on other OSes (for instance, Solaris, Red Hat, etc are all possibilities). Therefore JDS 2003 -is- a version of SuSE. However, what we have done is add a desktop layer to the SuSE distribution which is uniquely Sun's desktop. If ported to Solaris, for instance, these same application versions and UI would still be available."

java desktop

The Java Desktop System is Sun's version of Gnome. I have no idea why they don't call it Gnome as it has nothing to do with Java except the name.

http://wwws.sun.com/software/javadesktopsystem/

Watch out for the amount of jibberish they have on their homepage though.


Håkan

It actually has a lot to do with Java just like Open Office. It is there but it is hidden. Open Office uses Java for scripting. Similarly the Java Desktop System uses Java for multiple reasons and thus the name.

I personally feel that SuSE have done a good job with the operating system. The desktop looks cool with all the pretty icons and all.

In what way is Java used in the Java Desktop? Sure, it ships with J2SE in order to enable people to easily run and build Java apps, but what more? I would like to know what those multiple reasons are, apart from inter-application scripting (which Java is overkill for). As a Java programmer I'm kind of curious.

Håkan

that's got me curious. i remember way on back when there was a big push for Java to develop it's own operating system. the project got canned for one reason or another. it looks like Linux meets the criteria for what they were looking for in an operating system.

it should be a cool marriage, i'd like to try it out, however i'm NOT paying for it and the source code had better be free or it's not Linux. i can understand wanting to charge for it's use like mandrake and redhat but.... ....there should be a freely available version also.

does anyone know if it's available for a test run. i currently have 4 operating systems on this machine (mandrake, slack, 2k and xp). i got room for another linux distro (that is with separate partitions). i was going to try either Vector or LFS but i wouldn't mind giving Java desktop a go.

- perry

hi hw-tph

http://wwws.sun.com/software/javades...m/faq.html#0q2


On a lighter note
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http://www.wired.com/news/technology...,60462,00.html

Quoting from the webpage:

Sun's latest attempt tries to leverage its Java brand, which is popular on a wide range of computing platforms from servers to cell phones but has contributed little directly to the company's bottom line.

Singer said because of Java's openness and integration with the new Sun desktop software, developers will have access to more components of the underlying software than they do with Microsoft's proprietary offerings.
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Also, Sun is promoting (extensively) the JDS as a secure environment because of the Java sandbox.

Hehe, that Wired quote was right on the spot.
It looks like it's not much more than a "let's name this thing after another successful thing and we'll sell tons and tons of it!". Evolution with Java support, Java with the GTK2 L&F....

Håkan

You now the know the secret behind the JDS. Guess the Sun people will just have to kill you.

while i think some in the Linux and Gnome communities might feel a bit insulted that Sun seems to be brandishing someone elses ideas under their roof, it's nonetheless a legitamite Linux distro in it's own right. and they are being politically correct by offering a yearly service contract which is fundamentally equivalent to Microsofts "buy our latest incarnation of Windows" deal.

in the meantime, serious office administrators fed up with Microsoft's Shutdown Virus of the Week will be please that a major and long time player is able to give them a steady alternative from Windoze hell.

thats a good thing!

- perry