The Apache Foundation is preparing to launch an open source project to create software that is compatible with Java 2 Standard Edition (J2SE). The software is needed to run Java applications on a desktop PC.

Although Sun Microsystems owns the intellectual property for the Java programming language, it has recently opened the door for an open source alternative by changing some rules in the Java Community Programme.

Geir Magnusson, an independent software developer, said in an online FAQ (see below) that the Harmony project aims to meet "broad community interest" in an open source version of J2SE.

Sun has so far declined to open source Java, maintaining that it will lead to a fragmentation of the programming language, where several parallel versions would exist next to each other.

Having multiple Java versions would require software developers to certify their software for each version.

To back up its contention, Sun usually points to Linux where fragmentation has caused most major software vendors to certify their software only for the Red Hat and SuSE distributions. This has created a de facto duopoly on the Linux server market.

To prevent fragmentation, developers of a Java alternative have to pass rigorous testing requirements before they can call their software Java compliant.

The testing requirements are expected to throw up a major hurdle for the open source project, which Magnusson warned will "take a long time".

Apache claims that the Harmony project will not lead to fragmentation in the Java community because it will subject itself to the testing requirements. "A diverse Java community is a healthy Java community," said Magnusson.

Apache has already started development of an open source Java 2 Enterprise Edition implementation though its Geronimo project.

Sun welcomed the initiative. Graham Hamilton, a vice president at Sun and fellow in the Java Platform team, wrote in a blog posting that the company will "probably participate in the project".

But Hamilton admitted that he has doubts about the need for an open source alterative to Sun's J2SE.

Magnusson is scheduled to deliver a talk on Harmony at the upcoming Sun sponsored JavaOne tradeshow from June 27-30 in San Francisco.