Leadership By Numbers :: Shh. Lotus Notes and Google Android use Open Source Java

"Harmony" is the Apache foundation's open source release of Java. At JavaOne, in June, IBM explained that not only had it been "quietly" contributing code to the Harmony project, but these open source libraries are in production use.

In our regular shipping offerings, like WebSphere CE and Lotus Notes, we're using many of the Harmony libraries inside our JVM, and inside our core code. We contribute a lot to the Harmony codebase.

This adoption of open source is interesting from many perspectives. It makes sense for Lotus Symphony, but what is happening when open source Java is placed in a commercial product ? I think that with Lotus Notes, it makes it easier to see the trajectory of its development. I'm not suggesting that Lotus Notes will ever become an open source client, there is too much embedded IP to flip it to open source. However, each open source component lowers its cost and increases its extensibility. That's a good direction.

Using Harmony Java in production systems is also a bold assertion of confidence. After all, Apache Harmony has never been Sun certified. Yet, it apparently is attractive enough (low-to-zero price, stable, good feature set, etc.), that Google is relying on Harmony Java for its own Java ME in Android.

I expect to continue to see a wider adoption of Harmony for open source and commercial products. This is a great business plan for IBM, and it's fascinating to see a product with the heritage of Lotus Notes continually being re-invented.

Technorati Tags: Lotus Notes, Android, Apache Harmony

Comments

9 - Yep, Google is now officially just like Microsoft: Don't let the industry standards get in the way of your product.

Posted by Alex At 05:59:51 PM On 06/26/2010 | - Website - |

8 - this is a world class, certified implementation of the Java. Thanks for posting

Posted by hugg jackman At 07:51:15 AM On 06/25/2010 | - Website - |

7 - Google gerade im Web und bin auf dieser schönen und informativen Homepage
gelandet. Bevor ich weiter surfe, möchte ich noch einen Gruß von der
wunderschönen Insel Sylt hinterlassen.
Emoticon

Posted by Volker At 03:16:46 AM On 02/25/2010 | - Website - |

6 - Keep posting stuff like this i really like it.

Posted by Alex At 09:26:33 PM On 02/23/2010 | - Website - |

5 - Xray, so the FOSS community is financially constrained to stay in close to the harbor of private, close-source commercial applications ? I think FOSS is a different economic model, which is very flexible, and encourages entrepreneurship at every level. Great opportunities abound, with great risk.

Posted by jack dausman At 01:16:21 AM On 01/01/2010 | - Website - |

4 - Open source components in commercial applications are the only way for developers to profit for their work.

Posted by xray At 07:19:45 PM On 12/30/2009 | - Website - |

3 - Let's see what will come next... Emoticon

I am intrigued

Posted by dilan hotrey At 03:03:15 PM On 11/05/2009 | - Website - |

2 -
Apparently, there was a hope in the Java community of IBM bridging the rift between Harmony Java and Sun Java.

On the surface (which means, without the benefit of deep financial analysis) the merger of Sun and IBM seemed plausible. But now, I think letting Oracle have Sun actually frees IBM to build momentum. Oracle is a fierce competitor, and IBM can continue to use open source software for its strategic and operational advantages.

Posted by Jack Dausman At 09:00:03 PM On 07/08/2009 | - Website - |

1 - This says so much about why IBM walked away from the Sun buyout. There's no more need to "acquire" Java now than there was to acquire C++ or COBOL.

Posted by Nathan T. Freeman At 08:05:55 AM On 07/08/2009 | - Website - |