Comment Re:Way to undermine the language.. (Score 2) 397
Big critical difference here. Microsoft loathes linux and any other OS with a passion. At least the JDK is avaible on a wider range of OS choices than DirectX or anything else that MS creates.
Apples to apples, I don't think there is a difference at all. Java is not just some language or an API (like DirectX), but is a full-blown *platform* (or at least attempting to be one). If Sun has their way (and I hope they don't), Java will be the only platform a developer ever needs to address. As such, Java is to Sun what Windows is to Microsoft (an DirectX is merely a "Java 2D"). Therefore, it is in Sun's *advantage* to have Java ported to as many conventional OS's as possible. It promotes the platform, not competes with Solaris. Extending the analogy, this is like MS porting NT to non-Intel CPU's.
Unfortunately, again if Sun has its way, it may end up much worse than Microsoft II for MS only controls the platform (Win32). Java, in addition to being a platform (java.*), also forces the choice of language (syntax + java.lang.*) and even the CPU innstruction set (JVM)! These things don't stand out right now, because in most cases Java still lives in a virtual environment within another OS. Imagine if Java was all you had (Sun's goal).
Now I'm not an MS fan - far from it. But given a choice of the world domination by Gates or McNealy, I pray it's not McNealy.
Apples to apples, I don't think there is a difference at all. Java is not just some language or an API (like DirectX), but is a full-blown *platform* (or at least attempting to be one). If Sun has their way (and I hope they don't), Java will be the only platform a developer ever needs to address. As such, Java is to Sun what Windows is to Microsoft (an DirectX is merely a "Java 2D"). Therefore, it is in Sun's *advantage* to have Java ported to as many conventional OS's as possible. It promotes the platform, not competes with Solaris. Extending the analogy, this is like MS porting NT to non-Intel CPU's.
Unfortunately, again if Sun has its way, it may end up much worse than Microsoft II for MS only controls the platform (Win32). Java, in addition to being a platform (java.*), also forces the choice of language (syntax + java.lang.*) and even the CPU innstruction set (JVM)! These things don't stand out right now, because in most cases Java still lives in a virtual environment within another OS. Imagine if Java was all you had (Sun's goal).
Now I'm not an MS fan - far from it. But given a choice of the world domination by Gates or McNealy, I pray it's not McNealy.
