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Editorial Team
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Asked: 2026-05-14T04:56:45+00:00

I always hear that Java being open-source is a big benefit, but I fail

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I always hear that Java being open-source is a big benefit, but I fail to see how Java being open-source should draw me to use it as opposed to .NET which is closed-source. This website has some Q&A sections (What is the significance of these developments to the industry? in particular) that give a little info, but is being free the only (or the biggest) advantage to Java being open-source?

Since I am a beginner, have any of you pros noticed any major difference since the change was made?

EDIT:

Please disregard the .NET part of this question, I was simply using it as a comparison. What I really care about is knowing what benefit becoming open-source has been to Java.

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  1. Editorial Team

    If you are a mainstream user, there is probably no immediate benefit for you.

    However, the open-source base of Java makes it easier for people to adapt it to more niche requirements that the closed-source vendor sees no need to support. Smaller vendors (or open source projects) can come up with solutions to these special needs.

    For example, Java runs on a great variety of platforms and operating systems, most of them supported by companies other than Sun (granted, that was the case even before it was open source).

    have any of you pros noticed any major difference since the change was made

    I like the fact that Linux distributions now include the “official” Sun JVM and JDK, rather than making you install it separately or use the “mostly-compatible” alternative implementation that was provided.

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