Skip to main content
Add as a preferred source on Google


Red Hat and Sun Ink Open Source Java Deal

  • By Will Kraft
  • 11/13/07

Open source solution vendor Red Hat is collaborating with Sun Microsystems with the aim of creating a "fully compatible, open source Java Development Kit (JDK) for Red Hat Enterprise Linux," according to an announcement issued by Red Hat.

Red Hat was the first software vendor to license Sun's OpenJDK Community Technology Compatibility Kit (TCK). The TCK gives Red Hat access to a test suite that can determine the compliance of solutions with the Java SE 6 specification.

"When we open-sourced our Java software implementation, we hoped to see just this kind of collaboration between the GNU/Linux world and the Java technology ecosystem," stated Rich Green, Sun's executive vice president of software, in a press release.

In addition to providing assistance to Sun's projects, Red Hat will share its developer contributions with Sun as part of the OpenJDK community. As a contributor, Red Hat will have full access to the OpenJDK codebase, as well as that of the TCK.

Sun currently offers a generic Java Runtime Environment (JRE) for practically every Linux distro. However, Red Hat hopes to boost performance by building a JRE that is optimized specifically for Red Hat Enterprise Linux.

The enhanced JRE product will be included in the JBoss Enterprise Middleware, a product produced by JBoss, a division of Red Hat.

The agreement is consistent with Red Hat's IcedTea Project, which seeks to provide open alternatives to the remaining proprietary code portions of the OpenJDK project. The project will help make OpenJDK software available for Red Hat's Fedora Linux distribution.

About the Author

Will Kraft is a Web designer, technical consultant, and freelance writer. His website is Pagewizard Web Design. You can contact Will at [email protected].

Featured

  • Interconnected Light Particles in Vibrant Streams

    Rubrik Agent Cloud Expands Policy Controls for Agent Prompts/Responses

    Rubrik has made Rubrik Agent Cloud generally available, adding expanded governance controls that enforce predefined and custom policies on both AI agent prompts and responses.

  • Silhouettes of human faces in cyberspace

    Defending Against Data Breaches in the Age of Deepfakes

    As social-engineering attacks surpass ransomware as the top cyber risk, institutions must reevaluate their cybersecurity practices.

  • Abstract digital cloudscape of glowing interconnected clouds and radiant lines

    Cloud Complexity Outpacing Human Defenses, Report Warns

    According to the 2026 Cloud Security Report from Fortinet, while cloud security budgets are rising, 66% of organizations lack confidence in real-time threat detection across increasingly complex multi-cloud environments, with identity risks, tool sprawl, and fragmented visibility creating persistent operational gaps despite significant investment increases.

  • glowing brain above stacked coins

    The Higher Ed Playbook for AI Affordability

    Fulfilling the promise of AI in higher education does not require massive budgets or radical reinvention. By leveraging existing infrastructure, embracing edge and localized AI, collaborating across institutions, and embedding AI thoughtfully across the enterprise, universities can move from experimentation to impact.