From owner-freebsd-questions@FreeBSD.ORG Mon Jun 7 21:24:52 2010 Return-Path: Delivered-To: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Received: from mx1.freebsd.org (mx1.freebsd.org [IPv6:2001:4f8:fff6::34]) by hub.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id E9CA31065670 for ; Mon, 7 Jun 2010 21:24:51 +0000 (UTC) (envelope-from cswiger@mac.com) Received: from asmtpout030.mac.com (asmtpout030.mac.com [17.148.16.105]) by mx1.freebsd.org (Postfix) with ESMTP id D089A8FC1C for ; Mon, 7 Jun 2010 21:24:51 +0000 (UTC) MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=utf-8 Received: from cswiger1.apple.com ([17.209.4.71]) by asmtp030.mac.com (Sun Java(tm) System Messaging Server 6.3-8.01 (built Dec 16 2008; 32bit)) with ESMTPSA id <0L3N000R9Y5BFP30@asmtp030.mac.com> for freebsd-questions@freebsd.org; Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:24:48 -0700 (PDT) X-Proofpoint-Spam-Details: rule=notspam policy=default score=0 spamscore=0 ipscore=0 phishscore=0 bulkscore=0 adultscore=0 classifier=spam adjust=0 reason=mlx engine=6.0.2-1004200000 definitions=main-1006070145 X-Proofpoint-Virus-Version: vendor=fsecure engine=1.12.8161:2.4.5,1.2.40,4.0.166 definitions=2010-06-07_04:2010-02-06, 2010-06-07, 2010-06-07 signatures=0 From: Chuck Swiger In-reply-to: <20100607160834.6f34972f@scorpio> Date: Mon, 07 Jun 2010 14:24:47 -0700 Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable Message-id: <73E194E2-9945-4733-AFBA-4591CEAB8790@mac.com> References: <20100607104630.EA5FA1065741@hub.freebsd.org> <20100608003222.A27982@sola.nimnet.asn.au> <20100607160834.6f34972f@scorpio> To: Jerry X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.1078) Cc: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Java plugin with Firefox 3.6 X-BeenThere: freebsd-questions@freebsd.org X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5 Precedence: list List-Id: User questions List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , X-List-Received-Date: Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:24:52 -0000 On Jun 7, 2010, at 1:08 PM, Jerry wrote: [ ... ] > I honestly enjoy satire. That said, it does not change the fact that a = serviceable version of Java, suitable for Firefox-3.6, does not exist = within the FreeBSD framework. That's pretty much accurate, if you don't want to consider running = FF+Java under Linux emulation. =20 > A quick investigation of other operating systems would seem to = indicate that FreeBSD is virtually alone in this regards. The JRE from java.sun.com has binaries for Linux, Solaris, and Windows-- = which are the officially supported Java platforms-- and one could add = Apple's MacOSX. If you are running FreeBSD, Plan 9, HP/UX, IRIX, AIX, = or anything else, Java is not going to be nearly as well-supported. If Java is critical to you, seriously consider using another platform. > Now, I assume that you are familiar with the nVidia 64 bit drivers and > FreeBSD. It took years for that to be rectified. Based on that past > experience, I feel that stating that Firefox-4 might well be released > before a serviceable Java is available for version 3.6+ is a real > possibility. That's entirely possible. > Your commentary does serve to prove a very real point however. To wit: >=20 > Pointing out or stating a problem with a Microsoft product is > insightful, constructive criticism; however, doing the same for an = open > source product is destructive, counter productive, flame bait. Like many things, different people's motives and perspective tend to = shape how they perceive the same set of underlying facts. > Seriously Ian, I question whether the FreeBSD authors are more > interested in bumping version numbers than they are in producing a > fully serviceable, quality product. The two aren't closely related. Major version # bumps in commercial = software often happen because the vendor wants to sell upgrade licenses, = but that motivation simply doesn't apply to FreeBSD. Major version # = bumps happen in FreeBSD primarily because of major API changes which end = up making an entirely new version of userland libc & other libraries = desirable. =20 > When was the last time you tried getting a native FreeBSD driver for = an 'N' class USB wireless device? Never. The only 'N' device I have around is a Macbook Pro, and that's = running the vendor-supplied driver which came with the device. > Drivers for chips over a year old don't exist. It just seems to > me that the priority should be on getting the present product fully > functional rather than simply bumping version numbers. Then again, = that > is just my 2=E2=82=B5. Hopefully you get your money's worth. Regards, --=20 -Chuck