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Sun Linux Developer Resources
General QuestionsQ: Which Sun products will be included in Ubuntu 7.04 (previously named "Feisty Fawn")?
A:
The latest complete and fully supported components of Sun's Java technology stack are packaged for Ubuntu. These include:
Q: How will this benefit developers?
A:
By releasing a complete Java technology stack and tools that are optimized to instal on Ubuntu it will be easier for GNU/Linux developers using Ubuntu to leverage the Java platform in their applications. Until now, Linux developers have been required to download Java components from different repositories across the Web which takes time to locate, install and get support. With a Java stack optimized for Ubuntu in a single location, Linux developers have a single place to go to find and download Java and tools, allowing them to spend more time on developing applications. This will also allow developers to discover new opportunities and develop more applications that leverage the industrial strength foundation of the Java platform to deliver valuable new products and services.
Q: How will this benefit Sun?
A:
With over 3.8 billion Java technology enabled devices, Java technology has already demonstrated explosive growth, appearing in volume nearly everywhere. Now, available to the GNU/Linux community in optimized packages, the Java platform can address new markets and be the engine of innovation for the next generation of applications built on the popular Ubuntu distribution.
Q: How will this benefit Canonical?
A:
By being the first GNU/Linux distribution to provide an integrated Java stack and tools, Ubuntu expects to see more developers joining their community as they look to work with Java technology on the Linux platform. Canonical, the sponsor of Ubuntu, expects that with an expanding developer community around Ubuntu, Canonical will benefit from increased demand for commercial support and services.
Q: How will support be handled?
A:
Sun will provide commercial support for each of these components. Additionally, free developer support is available on the forums for each open source project. Sun is committed to supporting developers by providing versions of its technologies that are optimized and accessible by the various GNU/Linux communities.
Q: How will a user actually get access to the Java products?
A:
The Java products, like the majority of the software applications for Ubuntu are installed from the software repository using graphical installation software such as Synaptic Package Manager or via command line with
apt-get.
Q: Why are the products included in the Multiverse component? Why not in Main?
A:
The Java products are being included in the multiverse component because the Java platform is still in the process of being relicensed under the GPL. When the Java distributions become available under the GPL they become candidates for inclusion in the Main component and full support from Canonical.
Q: Isn't JDK 6 in Ubuntu 7.04 based on the DLJ license that Mark Shuttleworth and Jonathan Schwartz announced at JavaOne last year?
A:
Yes. Last year Sun created the Distribution License for Java (DLJ) which made it possible for GNU/Linux and OpenSolaris distributions to package and redistribute Sun's implementation of the Java SE Platform. The latest release of the Java SE 6 JDK, was released in December 2006 and Canonical has taken advantage of the DLJ to package JDK 6 for Ubuntu 7.04. A new addition to JDK 6 is Java DB, which is available as an optional add-on package.
Q: Why isn't Canonical including OpenJDK in Ubuntu 7.04?
A:
Last November Sun announced the plan to open source our Java SE implementation under the GPL. At that time major components of the platform including the Java programming language compiler and the HotSpot virtual machine source code were published as part of the OpenJDK project.
As previously communicated, Sun plans to make a completely buildable implementation of OpenJDK during the first half of 2007. However as the full JDK was not available in time for inclusion in the 7.04 release the timing did not allow including OpenJDK. Sun and Canonical are working together on packaging OpenJDK such that an open source implementation of the Java SE Platform can be included in the next Ubuntu release.
Q: How does the server version of Ubuntu 7.04 improve on the previous release?
A:
The latest server version of Ubuntu 7.04 includes: performance improvements, improved availability of network services, secure remote network services, improved support for the
UltraSPARC architecture, updated LAMP stack, updated cluster suites and virtualization.
Q: Is there a plan to get the Java Stack into Ubuntu 6.06 (the Long Term Support) release?
A:
Not at this point. The Java Stack is targeted at developers who are less concerned with the long term support that 6.06 provides and are more concerned with the latest improvements in the platform.
Q: What other Sun products might we see included in an upcoming release of Ubuntu?
A:
As Sun plans to open source its entire software portfolio, anything is a potential candidate. Please stay tuned.
Q: In what other areas are Sun and Canonical working together?
A:
Both parties are closely working on extending the certification of Sun Hardware, both x64 and UltraSPARC-based on Ubuntu.
Q: Almost a year ago both companies announced that Canonical would port Ubuntu to the UltraSPARC platform. How has that gone?
A:
The port and tuning went very smoothly and in fact the work that Ubuntu did paved the way for the inclusion of support for the UltraSPARC architecture in the mainline Linux kernel (2.6.17) last summer.
Q: Last Fall both companies announced that Sun's x64 servers were certified on Ubuntu. What results have you seen here?
A:
We started with the initial Galaxy boxes [Sun Fire X4100, X4200 servers] and Ultra 20 and 40 workstations. Since then we have seen extensive interest and growing sales to a number of Web 2.0 companies.
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