Java compatibility? (was Re: Not a bash, just the facts)

[Derek Broughton]

Daniel Carrera wrote:

> Derek Broughton wrote:
>> However, it's not hard to come up with 4 different versions of Java for
>> linux.  Sun, Blackdown, Kaffe, gcj.  I'm not entirely sure how Blackdown
>> differs from Sun these days, but Kaffe and gcj are quite different
>> approaches to providing Sun Java compatibility while remaining completely
>> Free.  The free versions _are_ compatible - where they have actually been
>> implemented - but there are still some gaping holes in their
>> implementations.
> 
> Nit-pick:
> 
> Strictly speaking Kaffe and gcj are not Java, in the same way that Mesa
> is not OpenGL. Java is a specification (like C and C++) with a
> compliance process. You can't call a compliler or vm "Java" until it
> passes the compliance test. Kaffe and gcj haven't yet.

True, and they're never likely to shell out the money required to actually
be certified.
-- 
derek