What Sun thinks of Java?

[tratan]

I've taken to reading Microsoft EULAs in light of that Windows Media Player thing, and I came across the following in the EULA of some little updater in Windows 2K:

 

quote:
15.  NOTE ON JAVA SUPPORT. THE PRODUCT MAY
CONTAIN SUPPORT FOR PROGRAMS WRITTEN IN JAVA.
JAVA TECHNOLOGY IS NOT FAULT TOLERANT AND IS
NOT DESIGNED,MANUFACTURED, OR INTENDED FOR
USE OR RESALE AS ONLINE CONTROL EQUIPMENT IN
HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS REQUIRING FAIL-SAFE
PERFORMANCE, SUCH AS IN THE OPERATION OF
NUCLEAR FACILITIES, AIRCRAFT NAVIGATION OR
COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS, AIR TRAFFIC CONTROL,
DIRECT LIFE SUPPORT MACHINES, OR WEAPONS
SYSTEMS, IN WHICH THE FAILURE OF JAVA
TECHNOLOGY COULD LEAD DIRECTLY TO DEATH,
PERSONAL INJURY, OR SEVERE PHYSICAL OR
ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE. Sun Microsystems, Inc. has
contractually obligated Microsoft to make this disclaimer.

This is all fun reading, but I was startled by the last sentence.  What the heck?  This can't be what it looks like, why did Sun "contractually obligate" Microsoft to talk trash about their own product?  (this is not a trick question, I'm hoping somebody can explain it to me.)

[jtpenrod]

quote:Sun Microsystems, Inc. has
contractually obligated Microsoft to make this disclaimer.

Read what comes first. Here, Sun is simply stating that Java isn't meant to be used in mission critical apps, such as those that run nuclear reactors, life support systems, or aircraft traffic control systems. There is nothing wrong in that; it's simply stating the obvious: Java was designed for other purposes. The above mentioned quote is simply CYA. If Microsoft were to use Java for something like these mission critical apps, and something went wrong that resulted in death or injury, it could come back on Sun. If M$ were to do something like that, this lets Sun off the hook.
_______________________________________
Live Free or Die: Linux

If software can be free, why can't dolphins?

[voidmain]

Not only that but Microsoft's version is not Java.  M$ changed it and pissed Sun off to no end.  I believe Sun made M$ make that statement because they know M$ programmers are shit.  I don't believe if you run Java on a Sun box you will find such a disclaimer.  Someone let me know if you find out otherwise.

[choasforages]

don't sun box's run mission critacal apps anyway.

[choasforages]

and i would shit my pants if microsoft software was ran on a nuclear reactor

when the wast water is directed to the oceans, that one degree of seperation, that business with .net