Sun opens Java app server code

By Alun Williams

Posted on 27 Jun 2005 at 17:56

Sun Microsystems is making more of its source code publicly available.

Following the decision to publish Solaris code a fortnight ago - Sun opens its OpenSolaris operating system - Sun has now decided to open up the code that underpins its use of Web services and other enterprise-scale applications.

Specifically, it will open up access to its Java System application server software Platform Edition 9, according to Reuters.

As with the Solaris release, the decision is a bid to attract developers to Sun's way of working. As Microsoft has long known, where developers lead, applications (and users) follow. By more clearly revealing the workings of its application server, Sun, in theory, will enable developers to better integrate their apps into its Java-based platform.

'Now I can sell services, systems, storage and design services, because I got my foot in the door [by giving away the code to the Java application server]', the head of Sun's software group, John Loiacono, told the news agency.

An application server is a program that co-ordinates front-end user requests with back-office systems and databases, this is often done by handling multi-stage transactions.

It is likely that the code will be released under Sun's CDDL (Common Development and Distribution Licence). Note that while the CDDL may have the official approval of the OSI (Open Source Initiative), it is incompatible with code distributed under the GNU General Public Licence (GPL).

The announcement comes ahead of the JavaOne conference, which starts today in San Francisco. As well as a birthday celebration for ten years of Java, expect further platform announcements in the coming days.