] Today, the big issue is Java. Sun's insistence on
] continuing tight control of the Java code has damaged
] Sun's long-term interests by throttling acceptance of the
] language in the open-source community, ceding the field
] (and probably the future) to scripting-language
] competitors like Python and Perl. Once again the choice
] is between control and ubiquity, and despite your claim
] that "open source is our friend" Sun appears to be
] choosing control. Sun's terms are so restrictive that
] Linux distributions cannot even include Java binaries for
] use as a browser plugin, let alone as a standalone
] development tool.

Sun screwed up Java because they were trying to use it to become Microsoft. Java would have been much more successful as a programming language had Sun not made these dumb business decisions.

] Today, the big issue is Java. Sun's insistence on
] continuing tight control of the Java code has damaged
] Sun's long-term interests by throttling acceptance of the
] language in the open-source community, ceding the field
] (and probably the future) to scripting-language
] competitors like Python and Perl. Once again the choice
] is between control and ubiquity, and despite your claim
] that "open source is our friend" Sun appears to be
] choosing control. Sun's terms are so restrictive that
] Linux distributions cannot even include Java binaries for
] use as a browser plugin, let alone as a standalone
] development tool.

Sun screwed up Java because they were trying to use it to become Microsoft. Java would have been much more successful as a programming language had Sun not made these dumb business decisions.

Many entities depend on Sun like a pillar when it comes to managed environments. Certain concepts of managing systems, are tied to closed source approaches. They can't jump in with both feet. Its not possible. They can stick one foot in at a time. By holding back Java, sun is polarizing the language situation in the way ESR describes, while we have Opportunity and Spirit going on over on our side. Maybe someone wants our work going on in the open..

The Open Source Community should keep casting clue at Sun. Sun will catch on, and believe me, Sun will stick around either way. In the meantime, it seems RedHat is becoming the new Solaris. Take note, I mean that in a good way for both RedHat and SunOS/Solaris.

And where the hell is perl6 anyway? :)