John D. Mitchell's Blog

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Binary XML?

Well, there's seems to be a fair bit of discussion lately about various approaches to making XML less of a bloated sack of protoplasm. Technically speaking there's a Sun article on talking about the Fast InfoSet draft specification. More generically speaking, here's a CNet article asking: How do we make XML faster?

• If binary XML is the answer, what exactly is the question?
• If XML is the answer, what is the question?
• Why are people using XML for so many things that it's horrible for?

IMHO, all of this stems from the fact that people have been mislead by XML's name into believing that XML is a language when XML is really just a data format. Very sad.

JCK's New Bait-n-Switch Licensing

Sun's Graham Hamilton has just announced the release of the Java Compatibility Kit (JCK) for J2SE under a read-only license.

Whoopity do!

If, heaven forbid, one wants to actually use the JCK at all, you are required to either submit to the onerous SCSL (Sun Community Source License) or upcoming JDL (Java Development License). If you want to use it commercially, you have negotiate a commercial license with Sun (at least $50,000.00).

Geez, doesn't this remind you of Microsoft's incredibly lame "shared source" insanity?

As always, I'm a firm believer that, hey, it's Sun's property and they can do whatever they please with it but Sun's mealy-mouthed, half-assed, Janus-faced approach to "opening" up Java is, frankly, insulting. Sun: if you want to continue with your dictatorial control of Java, just be honest and say so but stop all of the weasely, self-righteous BS -- or return to your bold roots and get serious about truly opening Java up to the world.

JSR 170 goes public

The public review period for JSR 170: Content Repository for Java technology API is open now until July 19, 2004.

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