Java thrives on diversity, and thus the vitality of Linux as an alternative platform to Windows on intel platforms is of some importance
to Java developers. The health of Linux is of less importance to J2ME, but of major importance to the continued spread of J2EE.
I read this interesting article out today that seems to give a good summary of the ongoing "revolution" engulfing
the software world as open source ideology and thinking clashes with the proprietary status quo (a.k.a. Microsoft).
Some interesting quotes:
Linux and other open source software do not represent a breakthrough technology.
Linux is a breakthrough of another kind, with major ramifications for the software industry beyond the much publicised threat to Microsoft. It's more akin to a historic moment like the fall of the Berlin Wall than a great scientific achievement. Linux--and the open source movement--is changing not just the economics of software, but also the way people think about software.
The battle is often painted as a confrontation of Microsoft versus Linux, David and Goliath, socialism versus capitalism. Bill Gates and team are lined up on one side with a US$50 billion war chest, an attitude of relentless pursuit, and customers who are starting to question their allegiance. Linus Torvalds and the ragtag army of open source developers and companies--including Red Hat, SuSE and MySQL, flanked by IBM on the other stalwarts--stand on the opposing side.
From a corporate IT perspective, however, both sides have legitimate claims and products to offer. It's not an either-or situation. It's about the price and service for goods rendered.
The economics of the open source ecosystem will make Linux a major factor in the data center. However, Meta Group analyst Corey Ferengul said that while Linux is a less expensive operating system, it still requires the same level of support and management tools as any other high availability platform.
Meta Group projects that more than 40 percent of new Intel-based servers shipped by 2006/07 will be Linux-based.
There are open source alternatives like JBoss to fee-based J2EE-based application servers such as IBM's WebSphere, BEA's WebLogic, and Oracle's 9iAS. Sun doesn't appear inclined to enforce the intellectual property rights to Java that would castrate open source efforts.
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