Open Java Is Coming to Microsoft Azure

While once a determined enemy of open source, Microsoft has embraced yet another open source technology. This time the company is working with Azul Systems to bring an open implementation of Java to its Azure cloud computing platform.

Jonathan Brandon with Business Cloud News reported, “MS Open Tech, Microsoft’s open source-focused subsidiary announced a partnership with Azul Systems on Wednesday that will see the two bring the Open JDK implementation to Windows Server and the Windows Azure platform.”

ZDNet’s Liam Tung added, “The OpenJDK for Windows on Azure will be freely distributed and licensed by Azul under the GNU GPLv2. Azul will also certify the OpenJDK will be compliant with the Java SE specification.”

The Register’s Jack Clark noted, “Oracle is already bringing its database, middleware and, yes, Java, to Windows Azure, so the arrival of OpenJDK on Azure will give developers that want to avoid Oracle Java choice when chugging Java-as-a-Service from Windows clouds.”

Computerworld’s Joab Jackson wrote, “Microsoft will offer the Java Standard Edition (Java SE) by the end of the year both as a stand-alone PaaS (platform as a service) and as component of a Windows Server IaaS (infrastructure as a service), both on the Windows Azure service.”