Java Desktop System
| Company type | Software product |
|---|---|
| Industry | Desktop environments |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Founder | Sun Microsystems |
| Fate | Discontinued |
| Successor | None |
Area served | Solaris, Linux (discontinued) |
| Products | Java Desktop System (JDS) |
| Owner | Oracle Corporation (after acquisition of Sun Microsystems in 2010) |
| Parent | Sun Microsystems, then Oracle Corporation |
Java Desktop System, also referred to as OpenSolaris Desktop, represents a discontinued desktop environment originally created by Sun Microsystems and subsequently maintained by Oracle Corporation following its acquisition of Sun in 2010. This environment was designed for Solaris and previously supported Linux, with the Linux edition discontinued after Solaris was released as open source in 2005. Aimed primarily at enterprise users, Java Desktop System delivers a familiar user interface combined with a comprehensive collection of office productivity software, such as an office suite, web browsing, email, calendar tools, and instant messaging capabilities.
Contrary to what its name might imply, Java Desktop System is not developed in Java; instead, it is constructed around a tailored version of GNOME alongside various open source projects mainly written in C and C++. The branding underscored Sun’s intention to advance the platform as a foundation for deploying applications based on the Java platform.
Versions
Initially, JDS was offered as an "operating environment," essentially a customized Linux distribution built on top of SUSE Linux. Sun initially provided a GNOME 1.4 preview on a separate disc for Solaris 8.
JDS version 2 featured:
- Java
- GNOME with the Blueprint theme
- StarOffice
- Mozilla
- Evolution
- MP3 and CD playback utilities
- Java Media Player from the Java Media Framework
- Gaim for instant messaging
- RealPlayer
This release supported both Solaris and the SuSE-based Linux platform.
Released in 2005, JDS Release 3 accompanied Solaris 10 and gave users the option to select either the CDE or JDS during setup. It utilized GNOME 2.6 and was exclusively available for Solaris 10.
OpenSolaris Desktop
The OpenSolaris project incorporated its own iteration of the Java Desktop System directly within the OpenSolaris operating system, without maintaining a separate release cadence.
OpenSolaris Desktop 01, launched on October 28, 2005, was based on GNOME 2.10; this was succeeded by OpenSolaris Desktop 02 on December 23, 2005, which used GNOME 2.12. The final version aligned with OpenSolaris 2009.6, featuring GNOME 2.24 alongside Firefox 3.1, OpenOffice 3, and Sun’s VirtualBox. The OpenSolaris Desktop series was discontinued following the end of the OpenSolaris initiative.
Availability
With the termination of OpenSolaris, JDS Release 3 remains the most recent supported edition running on Solaris 10. Later Solaris versions have phased out Java Desktop System entirely; for instance, Solaris 11 and its derivatives such as OpenIndiana now employ standard GNOME releases.
See also
External links
- Oracle Documentation
- OS News review December 2003
- eWeek Review December 2003