Friends who fall foul of my files trip and breakneck.

[reddragdiva]

Stallman and Raymond were right: pseudo-free software and pseudo-open source mean proprietary and closed. Sun Microsystems has unilaterally revoked the FreeBSD project's Java license (under the pseudo-open Sun Community Source License), apparently as part of renegotiating all SCSL arrangements. Despite much effort from FreeBSD, it seems Sun can't be bothered arranging another one. See also coverage on JavaLobby and Café au Lait. "Write once, run on any platform Sun likes this week." Is this how they plan to "open source" Solaris?

Edit: The source option remains available, although it requires three separate downloads and installing Linux compatibility and Java for Linux. Because proprietary software is not just evil, it's stupid. (That post being the first statement of Diva's Second Law of Software.)

Comments

[loosechanj.livejournal.com]

I don't even fucking bother anymore. I got java working on freebsd once, and quite frankly it wasn't worth the effort. Flash *might* be, if there were a browser pluging that didn't suck.

[reddragdiva]

This is what FreeBSD gets for trying to negotiate a binary license, because the source option remains a ridiculously long-winded pain in the arse.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

I asked about a native FreeBSD Flash plugin and was told that there's no chance.

[weatherpixie.livejournal.com]

I spent a long time trying to get OpenOffice working on FreeBSD and gave up and used KOffice instead.

Mind you, I've heard it is possible, but I was hampered by the fact I was using a custom version of ports (don't ask) and it emerged a week later when the machine failed to boot that my hard drive controller was ailing...

No I don't know why you need java for open office but apparently you do. The install procedure was somewhat baroque to say the least.

[mjg59.livejournal.com]

The absolutely best thing about Sun's Java is that the standard license doesn't allow you to distribute it if you include any other Java implementation.

It's weird. Sun have produced a license that looks like it's free by pretty much anyone's standards, and they're hinting that Solaris will be under it. But Java (you know, that piece of software that they give away to people and which doesn't tend to encourage people to buy Sun hardware) remains under a license that's worse than paedophiles. And world hunger. Together.

[reddragdiva]

OpenOffice doesn't rely on Java, but it kicks up a hell of a fuss when you don't want Java with that. Sun claim to have opened OOo to the Bazaar but, even when dealing with the other main corporate sponsor, run it like a Cathedral.

No-one who wants to run OOo on FreeBSD and retain their sanity does anything other than use the binary packages. For a while on FreeBSD 4.6.2 I was using the Linux binary under emulation. I must say the Linux compatibility layer does do pretty much all one would want.

[reddragdiva]

It's internal battles at Sun bubbling to the surface as the ship slowly sinks.

[reddragdiva]

The Linux Flash plugin can, I believe, be cajoled into pretty much working. Except if your Mozilla/Firefox is a Linux binary under emulation (for some stupid reason) - no plugins work, I think.

[ronebofh.livejournal.com]

No, Linux plugin works with Linux Firefox (or did back when it was Firebird, anyway) under emulation. Sound doesn't come through, though, if i recall correctly.