Why don't we still have java built into a major distro?

boonders · 04-02-2003, 12:07 AM

Windows has had java built in since WIN 98, why doesn't anybody carry it prebuilt in? I hate having to install it EVERYTIME...

Dave Skywatcher · 04-02-2003, 12:44 AM

It's a licensing issue. Sun's Java is not open-source/free software, so a lot of distros will not distribute it on that principle, including Red Hat and Debian. As products like Kaffe mature, we should be seeing more distros accept alternatives to the "official" Java.

MasterC · 04-02-2003, 01:20 AM

Depending on which version you are installing, many do. SuSE 8.1 Pro had java and several alternate versions. Mandrake 9.0 PowerPack as well.

Download iso's, as Dave said, aren't geared towards commercial apps, but more geared towards opensource/free software.

Cool

boonders · 04-02-2003, 01:44 AM

Kaffe is more of what i'm getting at. Java has open standards though. SunMicro might not offer their VM open source, but I'm just suprized that Kaffe hasn't proceeded any faster/better than it has.

nakkaya · 04-02-2003, 11:56 AM

btw windowz xp do not have java built in it comes with service pack 1 after losing at the court

boonders · 04-02-2003, 03:29 PM

hmm..i'm pretty sure that microsoft bundled THEIR working java VM in XP.

Dave Skywatcher · 04-02-2003, 05:16 PM

Microsoft sees Java as a threat. If they do have a Java implementation in XP (which I wouldn't know, since I won't use XP), it would be an "embrace and extend" version, in other words not compatible with Sun's Java or anyone else's. Think JScript vs. Javascript for just one of many examples of this.

mhearn · 04-03-2003, 10:25 AM

The microsoft Java VM is useless and nobody in their right mind supports it. It's buggy, slow, incompatable and no longer maintained. You ALWAYS have to install Java from Sun if you want to actually use it, as opposed to doing Hello World applets.

boonders · 04-03-2003, 12:23 PM

actually, www.datek.com has an extensive applet that USED to only work with MS VM. They changed their code recently to make it compatible with java VM, but for a long time it only worked with the MS VM.

Proud · 04-03-2003, 01:04 PM

Just to jump in here, but then they suck! Why write for something designed to put people off the language they're coding in?

MrJoshua · 04-03-2003, 03:01 PM

what is this XP you speak of ? Is that a new disto? =)

Proud · 04-03-2003, 03:04 PM

I actually like the idea of Microsoft trying to make XP a desktop environment, like KDE.

Not that you cant theme your WM/DE to look like any other OS already

jonr · 04-03-2003, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrJoshua
what is this XP you speak of ? Is that a new disto? =)

XP? I think it's a virus of some kind, but not sure...

Mr. Alex · 07-31-2010, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by boonders

Windows has had java built in since WIN 98, why doesn't anybody carry it prebuilt in? I hate having to install it EVERYTIME...

Linux Mint has Java preinstalled.

Nylex · 07-31-2010, 02:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Alex

Linux Mint has Java preinstalled.

Is there a (good) reason that you're dragging up such an old thread? Mint wasn't around when this question was asked and if the OP was using Linux now, they'd probably know that things had moved on since then..