Sign that open source has arrived: SpringSource elected to JCP

As perhaps the clearest indication that open source has "arrived," take a look at the company it keeps. For example, today SpringSource announced that it has been elected to the Java Community Process Executive Committee. Good for SpringSource, right? It now gets a seat at the Java table and can help to improve enterprise Java.

But this isn't the real news. No, the real news is that open-source SpringSource joins SAP, Ericsson, Nokia, Philips, and IBM on the JCP Executive Committee.

It's similar to to open-source content management and collaboration vendor, Alfresco, being chosen to participate in the CMIS standards body, along with IBM, EMC Documentum, Microsoft, OpenText, Oracle, and SAP.

Little SpringSource. Little Alfresco. Big open source.

Open source has arrived. Just ask the incumbent vendors who can no longer hold back the tide, but are under increasing pressure to allow open-source vendors and communities to break open their cabals and participate in setting industry standards and technology direction.

It's about time.

Disclosure: I am an Alfresco employee.

[williamlouth]

"setting industry standards and technology direction."

You incorrectly assume that all members make worthwhile contributions during the process and not just at the end when the vote has been cast.

William

[williamlouth]

And just to put things in perspective which you seem to consistently fail to do:

Executive Committee for Java SE/Java EE
http://jcp.org/en/participation/committee

Hani Suleiman (http://www.bileblog.org) was in 2007 elected.

William

[Ian Skerrett]

Matt,

Not sure if you know but the Apache Foundation has been a long time member of the JCP and the Eclipse Foundation was elected last year. 'Open Source' has already arrived at theJCP.

Ian Skerrett
Eclipse Foundation

[Matt Asay]

@Ian: Good point. Thanks for the update.