Sun opens calculation-software source

Sun Microsystems has opened the source code of its Grid Engine software in an effort to encourage development and use of the software. Grid Engine uses the otherwise idle processing power of networked computers to accomplish computing tasks.

The 500,000-line software project is hosted by CollabNet, Sun announced at the O'Reilly Open-Source Convention in San Diego. Sun acquired the software in July 2000 and made it a free download in September.