Has Sun abandoned the JCP?

What would happen if Sun pulled out of the JCP? Do you remember seeing a JSR for JavaFX?

I've thought about this before: what if Sun decided the JCP wasn't working, and instead of trying to fix it, it just abandoned it altogether? One such example of this is the recent release of JavaFX Script, JavaFX Mobile, and JavaFX TV. Yes, they’re three different technologies really, but they are related, and they were announced together. Otherwise you could argue these are three recent examples instead of just one.

The Java Community Process does have some problems. For instance, a vendor can start a JSR, get it approved, and then just sit on it and prevent any progress from being made in that area. If this is an area related to that vendor’s business, there can be some benefit to doing this. For instance, the JCP states that once a JSR has been created for a certain feature, a second one cannot be created. Therefore, a vendor that has a lead in a niche area can prevent other key companies from competing in that space via a JSR. Of course, there’s nothing stopping that vendor from bringing a competing product to market, but they may be seen as circumventing the JCP and hence the Java community.

Also, voting for approval of a JSR should be based solely on the technical merits of the technology in question. However, some representatives use their vote to point out their dislikes for the company that sponsors the specification lead. We’ve seen this happen with JSR-316. It’s not unreasonable to consider one company withholding an approval just to voice its dislike for another company involved in the JSR.

The JCP becomes a political playground, where the technology itself can potentially be stifled – this is not what the JCP was intended for. But how do you fix it? That’s difficult to answer, and some believe there is no easy answer. Apparently, Sun might agree, as evidenced by the JSR-less JavaFX.

What’s your opinion of the Java Community Process? Does it work? Can it be fixed? Do you even consider it worth paying attention to? Let me know.

Happy coding,
EJB

Posted by Eric Bruno at 08:16 AM  Permalink