Sun will also be adding the GPLv2 to its server platform Java Platform Enterprise Edition (Java EE), already an open source offering under Project GlassFish, in the first quarter of 2007.

Project Harmony aims to create version of Java desktop software with an open-source license--something Sun has resisted in the past.

It's no surprise that Sun Microsystems is making its core Java platform freely available; what is somewhat unexpected is the vendor's choice of open source license.