Date: Thu, 18 Mar 2010 09:13:14 -0500 From: Jason Garrett <kingedgar@gmail.com> To: Robert Huff <roberthuff@rcn.com> Cc: freebsd-ports@freebsd.org Subject: Re: Java For Firefox Message-ID: <970380131003180713v89c630cucbe506dbba19eb25@mail.gmail.com> In-Reply-To: <19362.8135.173250.410907@jerusalem.litteratus.org> References: <4B9A4C65.4040606@joseph-a-nagy-jr.us> <970380131003171157m104953fen9f99e82823f564b@mail.gmail.com> <201003180950.04627.achill@matrix.gatewaynet.com> <20100318062151.7791fdbc@scorpio.seibercom.net> <20100318113348.281f2de5@ernst.jennejohn.org> <970380131003180354n37bf379ej9b17aab91a1c130@mail.gmail.com> <19362.8135.173250.410907@jerusalem.litteratus.org>
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On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 07:42, Robert Huff <roberthuff@rcn.com> wrote: > > Jason Garrett writes: > >> =A0>> At some point a rational person realizes that it is time to move o= n. >> =A0>> Progress is achieved by striving forward; not looking backwards. I= fail >> =A0>> to see any logical reason why a fully up-to-date version of Java c= annot >> =A0>> be included into the ports system and thereby enable the users of = the >> =A0>> latest version of Firefox, and perhaps other programs, to benefit >> =A0>> from its presents. >> =A0>> >> =A0>> FreeBSD has always lagged far behind in its released versions of J= ava >> =A0>> as opposed to Sun's released versions. Since it appears that FreeB= SD is >> =A0>> lagging behind, there is no reason to work on any of the intermedi= ate >> =A0>> versions, but rather concentrate on the latest released version; >> =A0>> thereby benefiting its user base. >> =A0>> >> =A0> >> =A0> Put your money where your mouth is and provide patches. >> >> =A0What part of "I don't do much code" did you not understand? >> >> =A0This is a canned response around here and frankly should be >> =A0ignored if the poster has nothing else positive to add to the >> =A0discussion. > > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0While the form was rather brusque, the content was entirel= y > accurate and should _not_ be ignored. > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Java is one of the larger/most complex third-party product= s on > which other apps depend. =A0I am quite glad I'm not the one > responsible for updating and testing new versions. =A0As for actual > certification? =A0It's a long and expensive process; it's happened > twice, both times by the unexpected gift of one ot more corporate > sponsors (whose identity has not been disclosed, probably by > request). > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0FreeBSD is - with exceptions that can be counted on one ha= nd - > maintained and improved by volunteers. =A0They work on what interests > or affects them, on their own time, sometimes spending thwir own > money. > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Yes, there's a Java team. > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Yes, it's understaffed. =A0(So, by some metrics, is the en= tire > project.) > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0No, there's no one around authorized to break out the whip= and > shackles and tell them to row harder. > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Yes, they're perfectly aware they're behind the curve. =A0= Perhaps > no one is _more_ aware, including details not obvious to others. > > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0So ... once the whing\\\\\ complaining is done. the OP has > choices: > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0They can suffer with the /status quo/. > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0They can go elsewhere. =A0Frankly, if they need these feat= ures > that badly, this is the correct and reasonable solution. =A0They'll be > missed, but the decision will be understood. > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Or they can contribute - contribute what skills they do ha= ve > (e.g. testing), contribute cycles on machines of different > architectures, even contribute the funding to pay for a full-time > coder to work on this. =A0(I'm guessing here; talk to java@ for the > exact list.) > > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Respectfully, > > > =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0 =A0Robert Huf= f > > > With all due respect Robert, Gary Jennejohn ran into this thread and simply said (with my name being the last mentioned) "Put your money where your mouth is and provide patches.". Obviously he did not read my post or any of the others. I have next to ZERO coding experience, but what I do have is time and machines to provide any EXTRA support that the Java team would like. I myself do not _NEED_ any of the features in the latest update, but it would be nice to have a more recent version. I understand how hard this is, and how understaffed the whole project is in general. For some one to jump in with a one liner like Gary did is unacceptable. It's obvious he did zero reading and therefore he has nothing to add either. If anyone would like to take this argument off list, please feel free to email me. I would even be willing to give out my telephone number to discuss ad nauseam. Now that this has been exhausted on-list, can we get back on-topic?
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