[indiana-discuss] Indiana Problem Statement

[Doug Scott]

Alberto Ruiz wrote:
>
>
> 2007/7/2, Peter Tribble <peter.tribble at gmail.com 
> <mailto:peter.tribble at gmail.com>>:
>
>     On 7/2/07, Alberto Ruiz <aruiz at gnome.org <mailto:aruiz at gnome.org>>
>     wrote:
>     >
>     > Now, seriously, why do we need Java on the core OS? Perl and
>     Python make
>     > sense, since both are used for systems stuff, already, but Java?
>     Do we need
>     > it in the core essentials?
>
>     I'm actually very glad that Ian is advocating that Java belongs in
>     the core
>     (which I've always believed to be the case), and that it looks
>     like it's not
>     too big to overwhelm it. 
>
>
> Being on the core and being availible on the main distribution are 
> different things. What are we talking about exactly? Java on the 
> essentials of the OS (minimal) Java on the default LiveCD? Note that I 
> don't have an strong opinion on this, only want people to expose 
> proper arguments rather than "Java rocks", or it has "wide enterprise 
> adoption" and all that stuff :-)
You say you do not have a 'strong opinion on this',  and you want proper 
arguments. Ok, on what basis, language quality, application quality, usage?

>     I don't actually see much difference in the logic between python and
>     java. Perl is slightly different, given the amount of ad-hoc
>     scripting
>     that exists.
>
>
> There is python scripting for that purposes already, however, I tend 
> to think of Java as a platform targeted to larger and complex 
> applications, I might be wrong.

I turn on my phone and I see java. I have a java smart-card in my 
wallet. How small do you want it to go?

>
>     Java is a key enabler. There's a huge ecosystem built up around
>     java. Its inclusion (if done right) immediately makes OpenSolaris
>     relevant to a larger community.
>
>
> Definitively, Java should be available on the distribution itself, of 
> course. I was questioning its need on the minimal/essential system. 
> I'm still not sure if we are talking about that, or the main 
> distribution (Live/InstallerCD).
Browser plugin. Java Webstart. Not having to reconfigure Open Office 
'per user' when you add Java.

Doug