Wow! You have to admit that even a remote possibility of Open Source Java is truly a cool idea! It seems that Sun has really jumped into the whole thing with both feet, but I am left wondering just how much planning would go into this whole thing. Will they be prepared for any potential backlash? Only time will tell I suppose.

Now that the open source initiative has approved Sun Microsystems Inc.’s Common Development and Distribution License, which paves the way for the company to release Solaris as open source, officials are looking at using the license to open its Java Enterprise System as well.

Sources close to the Santa Clara, Calif., company said Sun is considering opening the JES using the CDDL. If that happens, “everything that is built at Sun would pretty much fall under the CDDL,” one source said.

Such a move would have a major impact on Sun’s partners, customers and the open-source community, since the JES is the foundation for building Java-based applications and services.

Sun officials last week declined to say what the CDDL will be used for, but sources confirmed that Sun plans to use the CDDL initially for Open Solaris, and then will look to apply it to the JES and its technology stack.

Full details on Open Solaris, including its license and the community development and governance models, could be released as early as this week, sources said.