Editing Free Java implementations (section)

==Sun's November 2006 announcement==
On November 13, 2006, Sun released its compiler, [[javac]], under the [[GNU General Public License]].<ref>[http://news.cnet.com/Sun-picks-GPL-license-for-Java-code/2100-7344_3-6134584.html Sun picks GPL license for Java code]</ref>

As of September 2007, as well as javac, Sun has released the code of [[HotSpot (virtual machine)|HotSpot]] (the [[virtual machine]]) and almost all the [[Java Class Library]] as free software.

Following their promise to release a fully buildable [[Java Development Kit|JDK]] based almost completely on free and open source code in the first half of 2007,<ref>[http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/java/faq.jsp#b4 OpenJDK FAQ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070402155851/http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/java/faq.jsp#b4 |date=April 2, 2007 }}</ref> Sun released the complete [[source code]] of the Class library under the GPL on May 8, 2007, except some limited parts that were licensed by Sun from 3rd parties who did not want their code to be released under a free software licence.<ref>{{cite web
| url=http://mail.openjdk.java.net/pipermail/announce/2007-May.txt
| title=Open JDK is here!
| publisher=Sun Microsystems
| date=2007-05-08
| access-date=2007-05-09}}</ref>  Sun has stated that it aims to replace the parts that remain proprietary and closed source with alternative implementations and make the class library completely free and open source. Since there's some [[Proprietary software|encumbered code]] in the JDK, Sun will continue to use that code in commercial releases until it's replaced by fully functional free and open-source alternatives.