Hi:

Since last week when the message below and other messages began to 
circulate, approximately 230 votes have been cast for the java port to *BSD. 
  This has raised our total count to 3182, an increase of 7.75%.  
Additionally, it is heartening to read the comments left by those who have 
voted which clearly demonstrate the depth of loyalty that *BSD users have 
for their platform of choice.

Greg Lewis, who heads the FreeBSD-java porting effort has released the first 
"alpha" patchset for FreeBSD, the seventh in a series of patchsets 
representing months of work by many *BSD-ers.  These volunteers have made a 
tremendous effort that is sure to enhance the *BSD plaform whether Sun comes 
around to an "official" port or not.  The best way to say "Thanks" is to 1) 
help with testing, 2) VOTE!

FYI: I am not a part of the java porting team, just a user who would like to 
use a native port and support the *BSD platform.

John

Last week, John Daniels wrote:
>Hi:
>
>In November 1999 a request for enhancement (RFE) was opened at Sun's
>Java Developer's Connection titled: Port jdk 1.2.x to FreeBSD (bug
>id: 4288745).
>
>Members of the Java Developer's Connection help prioritize bug fixes
>and RFE's by voting for the one's that they believe are needed most.
>The FreeBSD port RFE currently is the #1 request by far with 2953
>votes vs. 819 for the #2 request.
>
>Even with this wide lead, Sun has no obligation to make an official
>port of Java to FreeBSD or *BSD, or to be helpful to the *BSD efforts
>to port Java (see www.freebsd.org/java).  The larger the number of
>votes for our RFE, however, the more difficult it is for Sun to
>ignore.  And the more that we can widen the lead between our #1 RFE
>and #2, the more dramatic a statement we (collectively) make.
>
>An official Java JDK port to FreeBSD would likely mean that all BSD's
>would benefit either by being able to use the FreeBSD port or by
>being much closer to a port of their own.  In fact, many who have
>voted for the RFE have left comments supporting a port to *BSD, not
>just FreeBSD.
>
>As you may know, Sun recently teamed with Inprise to create an
>official port of Java to Linux (building on the work of Blackdown).
>The *BSD's, with a large and loyal base of developers, also deserve
>an official native version of Java.
>
>Please support the Java on *BSD effort by voting for the RFE at:
>http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/bugParade/bugs/4288745.html If you 
>are not already a member of Sun's Java Developers Connection,
>you will need to register before voting (membership is free).
>
>Your support is greatly appreciated.  Thank you.
>
>John
>
>PS Please forward this message to any person, list, or organization
>that may want to support this effort.
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