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Apache Harmony 24
Apache Harmony
Developer(s) Apache Software Foundation
Stable release 5.0M14
6.0M2 / June 7, 2010
Development status Active
Written in C++ and Java
Operating system Windows and Linux
Type Java Virtual Machine and Java Library
License Apache License 2.0
Website http:/ / harmony. apache. org
Apache Harmony is an open source / free Java implementation from the Apache Software Foundation, starting with
Java SE 5 and 6. It will be licensed under the Apache License, Version 2. It was announced in early May 2005 and
on October 25, 2006, the Board of Directors voted to make Apache Harmony a top-level project.
History
Initiation
The Harmony project was initially conceived as an effort to unite all developers of the Free Java implementations.
Many developers expected that it would be the project above the GNU, Apache and other communities. GNU
developers were invited into and participated during the initial, preparatory planning. Later it was decided not to use
the code from GNU Classpath, and that Harmony would use an incompatible license; therefore blocking the sharing
of code between Harmony and existing free Java projects. Apache developers would then write the needed classes
from scratch and expect necessary large code donations from software companies.
Reasons for rewriting from scratch
The main reason for disagreements between the GNU Classpath and Apache projects is due to differences between
the GNU General Public License (GNU Classpath's license also contains the linking exception) and Apache License.
These disagreements are inspired by various organizations and individuals [1] that prefer the Apache License, which
allows for closed source derived works. GNU Classpath can also be linked [2] with proprietary code, but it is legally
difficult to make a closed source derivative of GNU Classpath itself. However, many free software developers think
that the licenses and philosophy of these communities are not different enough to split the efforts, and the inability to
find compromises is frequently estimated negatively. The occasionally appearing suggestion to view these projects
as opposing forces does not find wide support. Enthusiasts of the free software tend to break the discussion with the
simple words that "more free software is not a problem". [3]
Difficulties to obtain a TCK license from Sun
The Apache Software Foundation sent a letter to Sun Microsystems CEO, Jonathan Schwartz, on April 10, 2007,
regarding their inability to acquire an acceptable license for the Java SE 5 Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK), a
test kit needed by the project to demonstrate compatibility with the Java SE 5 specification, as required by the Sun
specification license for Java SE 5. [4] What makes the license unacceptable for ASF is the fact that it imposes rights
restrictions through limits on the "field of use" available to users of Harmony, not compliant with the Java
Community Process rules. [5]