Re: Patches to java.util.zip by Christian Schlichtherle

[Stephen Crawley]

Jeroen Frijters wrote:

> Christian Schlichtherle wrote:
>  
>
> > For my personal education: What's wrong about adding constructors?
> >    
> It is a violation of the Sun license included with the API specification
> -- you could argue about whether the license is valid or not, but that's
> not the point, and it would preclude us (or any JVM based on GNU
> Classpath) from ever passing the TCK.
>  
Let us not beat about the bush.  It would be bad for everyone (except 
Microsoft)
if Java implementors were allowed to modify the APIs of the Java Class 
Libraries.
Even if the API changes are upwards compatible (e.g. adding visible 
methods,
constructors, fields or classes) the cause trouble.  Specifically, if vendor
XYZ has "enhanced" the APIs, then someone developing an application 
using vendor
XYZ's Java platform may well find that their software does not run on other
vendor's Java platform.

Those with long memories will remember that Microsoft tried this trick.  
It was
only the Sun license (and Sun's willingness to take Microsoft to court) 
that saved
the Java community from the hell of vendor specific Java "enhancements".

-- Steve