Sun Microsystems has just jumped into the open-source pool with both feet, as reported by C/Net's news.com. This appears to be basically a surrender to the power of Linux and a high-stakes gamble for the company.

The biggest risk is that no one will care. Linux is a familiar set of code for a huge number of programmers around the world. Will Solaris offer enough value for these programmers to spend the time bringing it up?

I suspect they will. If nothing else, portions of the code may very well find its way into future Linux releases. If this does happen then someone should look over the licensing agreements very closely. I'm sure that SCO-trained lawyers would like nothing better than to find new grist for their mills.

Larry Mittag