Java is finally open source, in the form of Red Hat’s IcedTea, which passed Sun’s Java Technology Compatibility testing. But Neil McAllister wonders if this milestone really marks the beginning of Java’s golden age. “In terms of raw popularity, it’s hard to argue that Java has been anything but a runaway success. Doubtless it will continue to enjoy a loyal following among enterprise application developers for years to come,” McAllister writes in this week’s installment of Fatal Exception. “Despite its newly relaxed license terms, however, actually growing Java’s installed base could prove more challenging.” Software Development