Java 2 Community Source Developers Area

This is the home for Java 2 SDK source developers. If you have already built the Java 2 SDK product or are just thinking about downloading a copy, then you have come to the right place.

The Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE) is the definitive development and deployment environment for enterprise software applications that can run on a variety of desktop computers, servers and other computing devices. The platform comprises the Java 2 Software Development Kit, Standard Edition (SDK) and Java Runtime Environment (JRE). The SDK provides software programmers with the speed, security and functionality to create cross-platform, mission critical applications. The JRE provides the execution environment needed to run Java platform-based applets and applications.

Sun is making the Java 2 SDK, Standard Edition source code available to the developer community as part of Sun's Community Source License Program. These releases are intended to further propel innovation of the Java platform and provide developers with easier access to the Java platform sources while still maintaining compatibility. With the source code, software developers are able to:

• fix platform bugs or performance bottlenecks that are impeding the development or deployment of an application
• implement new APIs which need access to platform internals

Note that for compatibility reasons, new public methods or classes may not be added to the core Java technology packages. Any such API additions would result in a conformance test failure.

While the Java 2 platform source code is available for any software developer, we recommend that you consider the following before downloading the code:

• Modified source code cannot be distributed without the express written permission of Sun
• Binary programs built using modified Java 2 SDK source code may not be distributed, internally or externally, without meeting the compatibility and other requirements described in the License Agreement
• Building, porting, and testing the Java 2 SDK source code requires a high level of technical expertise.
• The Java 2 SDK source code is not the compiled Java 2 SDK.

• Projects under development. You can help!
• Email Lists
• Discussion Groups
• Submit or Search Java 2 your SDK bug fixes. This is a different page to the normal bug submit page.
• Additional information about the Sun Community Source License.
• FAQ
• News archives