[jameshart]

Doesn't explain why Java developed a robust OSS ecosystem long before it went open source. Java did benefit from the model Sun set up on J2EE of setting out JSR 'specifications' and only providing limited capability reference implementations, which made it possible for the Apache Java ecosystem to spring up, initially around the Xerces and Xalan XML libraries. Maybe - maybe - Microsoft is starting to get on board with this kind of model now.

[cbsmith]

I agree there was a lot of similarity between how open Java & C# were as they evolved. However, Sun's engagement with the open source development community was much, much, much better than Microsoft's. Sun had its problems, but they actually had worked with that community in the past. At the time Microsoft was openly combative.

[lectrick]

That's... a good counterargument.