GNU Classpath

GNU Classpath is a free implementation of the standard class libraries for the Java programming language. It serves many open source developers to replace the formerly proprietary class library from Sun Microsystems.

GNU Classpath is used by many free compilers and runtime environments (for example, the GNU Compiler for Java [ GCJ ] or the free Java VM coffee ).

GNU Classpath is licensed under the GNU GPL. Since Classpath is largely compatible with the class libraries from Sun or IBM programs that use classpath, not derivative works apply. Due to an exemption in the license and proprietary programs against the free class library must be linked.

History

Development began in 1998 with five developers and took over the course of its development over again code from other projects with similar objectives (coffee, libgcj ). Formerly included GNU Classpath also a now discontinued own virtual machine called Japhar. After the bulk of the Java 1.4 API was implemented, the development of the implementation of new parts of the API shifted to troubleshooting. On 24 October 2006 the implementation of the 1.4 specification was completed.

2007 Has parts taken from GNU Classpath to close last gaps in the shared Sun sources of the official Java Development Kit, which had left proprietary remaining components within the project IcedTea the Linux distributor Red, and an executable version of OpenJDK to create. This code from GNU Classpath to the official implementation of the Java platform has been incorporated.