Java is now 100% free - maybe we should include it by default?

[William Tracy]

On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 3:28 AM, Matthias Klose <doko at ubuntu.com> wrote:
>> I thought the discussion was about include *IcedTea* in main--which is
>> OpenJDK with the last bits of proprietary code replaced with GNU
>> Classpath code.
>
> no, this is wrong. IcedTea is a layer around OpenJDK.

First off, IcedTea claims to produce binaries with no encumbered code:
http://icedtea.classpath.org/wiki/FrequentlyAskedQuestions#What_is_IcedTea.3F

Now, I have the nagging feeling that we both actually understand the
situation, and we are just misunderstanding each other. (Or at least I
am misunderstanding you.)

Here's what I believe is going on:

The IcedTea build process uses the OpenJDK sources (which means
downloading the relevant binary plugs) but produces a binary where all
the encumbered code has been either stubbed out or replaced with GNU
Classpath code. The binary has no encumbered code; the binary plugs
are present during the build, but are not actually used. This is what
allows us to put the IcedTea binary in Universe instead of Multiverse.

If this understanding is wrong, I really want to know.

> No. I did look at their tarball, and it does have the very same outstanding
> problems than ours.

Now I'm curious. Can you point me at the specific code you're looking at?

-- 
William Tracy
afishionado at gmail.com -- wtracy at calpoly.edu

Assembly language experience is [important] for the maturity and
understanding of how computers work that it provides.
 -- D. Gries