13.07.2015 Views

Java™ Application Development on Linux - Dator

Java™ Application Development on Linux - Dator

Java™ Application Development on Linux - Dator

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

522Chapter 24Parting ShotsThe three things we can say with c<strong>on</strong>fidence are that with Java, <strong>Linux</strong>, andOpen Source, the platform and the tools <strong>on</strong>ly get better, the price doesn’t goup, and every<strong>on</strong>e has the chance to play <strong>on</strong> an level field.We wouldn’t dream of predicting the future, but we’re sure that both<strong>Linux</strong> and Java will have a significant place in it.24.2OUR BOOK IS YOURSThis is an Open C<strong>on</strong>tent book (as we explained in Preface). You will be ableto take it and do with it what you please. We plan to keep improving the book<strong>on</strong>line, and we’d like to invite you all to join in. The authors (who like to referto themselves in the third pers<strong>on</strong>) have the book set up <strong>on</strong> public servers athttp://www.javalinuxbook.com/ and we welcome comments, suggesti<strong>on</strong>s,even patch files.D<strong>on</strong>’t be afraid to participate. Credit of some sort will be given to everyaccepted c<strong>on</strong>tributi<strong>on</strong>.24.3CAME THE REVOLUTIONA lot of people write about Free Software and Open Source in terms rangingfrom ec<strong>on</strong>omic history to political revoluti<strong>on</strong>ary rhetoric. One of your presenthumble authors has even written the phrase “ec<strong>on</strong>omic inevitability” in a weakmoment. And while there is ample room to speculate <strong>on</strong> the future by lookingat the past, and while there actually are legitimate issues of liberty, rights, andpolitics in the mix, it is always shaky when an argument veers close to tautology(“Free Software is right because it is right”).Some people will actually choose Free Software for political reas<strong>on</strong>s, justas some Americans chose rebelli<strong>on</strong> for political reas<strong>on</strong>s. But the majority ofAmericans in 1776 were not revoluti<strong>on</strong>aries, and the majority of people using<strong>Linux</strong> are not either. We have other c<strong>on</strong>cerns. In both cases, keeping bread <strong>on</strong>the table is a greater c<strong>on</strong>cern for most than the revoluti<strong>on</strong>ary issue.Read Richard Stallman’s writings if you are interested in the revoluti<strong>on</strong>.Read Lawrence Lessig 2 if you are interested in the politics and legal issues.2. A Stanford Law School professor and founder of the Center for Internet and Society, Lessigis the author of three remarkable books: Code and Other Laws of Cyberspace, The Future of Ideas:

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!