[ale] best cross platform development evironment

Mon Nov 8 12:15:51 EST 2010

In fact Oracle started a lawsuit with Google over Java extensions in Android.  In their response Google has stated this is little more than an attack on open source.

Of course Oracle has made open source stuff of their own.  I'm not ready to say they're attacking Open Source at a fundamental level but there is no denying that some of what they've done since buying Sun seems to be eliminating Open Source stuff Sun previously offered as well as undermining the rest.

________________________________

From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of Jim Kinney
Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 12:02 PM
To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
Subject: Re: [ale] best cross platform development evironment

HA! Given M$'s history I wouldn't count on them following their own contracts much less some nebulous "agreement". 

Cross-platform devel is best done with open standards not controlled by a single for-profit entity. As far as I have seen, language choices include C++, Python, Perl (but some windows lock-in with Active State); GUI from WX (supports C++ and python and perl) or cygwin (ugh!). I don't see Java as a true crossplatform as it requires an Oracle blessing for the local code bits and GNU Java is not always an option (windows version?) or QT (with gpl caveats on application - need devel license if output is NOT gpl) which supports C++, perl, python, and a gaggle of others.

On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 11:06 AM, Lightner, Jeff <jlightner at water.com> wrote:

Ignoring M$ history which is well documented doesn't change my opinion that it would be naïve to rely on a "promise" made by them.   There's a reason that large corporations like IBM and Sun felt the need to sue them despite "legal agreements" M$ signed.

I pointed out that ECMA 334 is specifically tied to a "patent agreement" that is at best vague.  If you choose to ignore that feel free to do so but don't pretend it is the same thing as true FOSS.

-----Original Message-----
From: ale-bounces at ale.org [mailto:ale-bounces at ale.org] On Behalf Of James Sumners

Sent: Monday, November 08, 2010 10:42 AM
To: Atlanta Linux Enthusiasts
Subject: Re: [ale] best cross platform development evironment

On Mon, Nov 8, 2010 at 10:16 AM, Lightner, Jeff <jlightner at water.com> wrote:
> To put it simply C# is NOT "free open source software" because of the restrictions M$ put in the patent agreement.

Both ECMA 334 and 335 are covered under MS's Open Specification
Promise[1], a legally enforceable[2] contract. Thus, MS cannot sue
anyone who implements 334 and 335 as detailed in the standards.
Therefore, Mono, the base implementation of C# and the .Net libraries,
ARE FOSS.

You not liking MS does not change that fact.

> If you think the only ones on the hook would be folks like Novell then you do NOT know the history of M$.   (By the way - It is ironic you used Novell as your example.   They are the only Linux distributor (SuSe) dumb enough to sign a no-sue agreement with M$ over FOSS.)

If you write an application using Mono, then you are not IMPLEMENTING
.Net. You are USING an implementation of .Net. Nothing in that patent
letter implies users of an implementation are subject to any action
what-so-ever. Only implementors. Additionally, Novell was not an
example (as indicated by my use of "i.e."[3]). Novell are the ones who
write, and maintain, Mono -- the implementation of 334 and 335.

This thread is about cross platform development environments for Linux
_and_ Windows. Java was eliminated from the realm of possibilities
because Oracle claims ownership of Java under threat of litigation,
despite Sun having licensed something with the name "Java" under the
GPL. So, the runner up, like it or not, is C# and .Net. Any other
environment is going to require much more work (making sure the right
libraries are installed, etc.).

[1] -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Community_Promise
[2] -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promise
[3] -- http://www.wikihow.com/Use-%22i.e.%22-Versus-%22e.g.%22

--
James Sumners
http://james.roomfullofmirrors.com/

"All governments suffer a recurring problem: Power attracts
pathological personalities. It is not that power corrupts but that it
is magnetic to the corruptible. Such people have a tendency to become
drunk on violence, a condition to which they are quickly addicted."

Missionaria Protectiva, Text QIV (decto)
CH:D 59

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