Re: Article on OpenOffice using GCJ

[Shawn McDermott <shawn at trulypersonalconsulting dot com>]

Ingrid Marson wrote:
> Hi 
>
> I'm interested in writing an article on the version of OpenOffice using
> GCJ that FSF is developing. What is GCJ being used for? - You say it is
> being used to build and run OpenOffice, why is GCJ needed to run
> OpenOffice. Surely once OpenOffice has been built it will run
> independently?
>
> Why have you decided to develop a separate version of OpenOffice? When
> do you think you will have the first version of OpenOffice using GCJ?
>
> I would be keen to chat to someone about this project. Is there anyone
> that I can speak to (ideally between 9am and 6pm GMT on Friday)? If so,
> please can you email me your phone number and a time that I can call
> you.
>
> Thanks for your help. 
>
> Ingrid
>
>
> Ingrid Marson
> Reporter
> ZDNet UK
> www.zdnet.co.uk
> T: +44 (0)20 7903 6835

Ingrid,

I am sure that Richard Stallman or others are more qualified to answer 
your query, but I thought I would give it a quick shot.

First, GCJ stands for Gnu Compiler for Java.  http://gcc.gnu.org/java/ 
It is a free java implementation vs Sun's java environment which as a 
more restrictive license. See the Free Software Foundations website for 
a definition of free, as it has no 'cost' implications. 
http://www.fsf.org/licensing/essays/free-sw.html

OpenOffice.org(OOo) is relatively independent OpenSource software. 
Basically this means that the source code is fully open sourced, but a 
portion of that code relies on Sun's java environment.  Because of this 
for a user to use these additional features, they must have a java 
environment installed on their computer.

The OOo/GCJ project is proceeding to work with the OOo developers to 
allow OOo to work with other java environments such as GCJ.  This will 
help the free software community be able to use these additional 
features and remove the dependence on Sun's implementation of java. 
Certain advantages to using GCJ is that the code can be compiled to not 
need a java environment at all, but that is a deeper discussion.

This is where Richard Stallman would be the best contact to discuss the 
particulars, as some would see it as a purely philosophical discussion. 
 Richard and I have exchanged several emails concerning this philosophy 
and while I don't fully agree, I do fully support this effort of helping 
OOo become an even better office suite.

Regards,
Shawn McDermott
Independent Software Engineer