Sun Microsystems Inc has put principal Java architect James Gosling in charge of its real-time extension work for Java, and says that the 14 companies led by HP to work on an alternative set of real-time API extensions will have a hard time following that effort. The extensions might involve us making some changes in the language, said Jim Mitchell, Sun’s VP Java Technology and Architecture, but fewer than HP and Microsoft would have to make. Mitchell, who says Sun continues to try and resolve the problems with HP, told journalists at a Sun briefing on Java yesterday that to do [the extensions] without input from the author of the language would be a dumb idea from a technical point of view. Mitchell claims that Sun would be well into the standardization process by the time anything concrete came out of the HP-led efforts. Jon Kannegaard, Sun’s VP and general manager, Java Platform, said that he had made concessions over pricing and even agreed not to enforce the give back clause whereby licensees have to return any extensions they make to Sun. But HP, he said, ultimately felt that it couldn’t have Sun in charge of any portion of the technology so crucial to it. Sun is holding up Motorola Inc as proof that its current technology and licensing practices can be acceptable to companies who want to use real-time Java for volume products. Does a laser printer need a smaller version of Java than a cellphone? Does it need to be cheaper in a laser printer than in a cellphone? And is there more competition in the laser printer market than in the cellphone market? he asked. Sun says it’s almost ready to talk about the revised terms for Java licensing and development it’s been discussing with Java licensees over the last month or so, following other objections from licensees (CI No 3,519).
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