Sun Weighs Open-Source Options

MENLO PARK, Calif.—Sun Microsystems Inc. is pondering the possibility of open-sourcing more of its software—this time with its next-generation 3-D windowing system, called Project Looking Glass, which is under development.

When completed, Looking Glass will allow a new user experience through three-dimensional windowing capabilities on the desktop, making communications and collaboration easier. The software will work with Linux, Solaris and Java applications, running in the X Window System, said Hideya Kawahara, Sun senior staff engineer, at the company’s executive briefing center here this week.

The Looking Glass development team is working on a software development kit for the project that it hopes will draw in developers. “The SDK should be available by the middle of the year. We are also discussing how to evolve Looking Glass going forward,” Kawahara said.

One option, he said, is to “let the Linux and open-source communities lead the next level of development.”

Sun of Santa Clara, Calif., is in talks with groups in the open-source community about Looking Glass, although no formal or final decisions have been made, Kawahara said. Sun is also hoping to integrate some components of Looking Glass into the GNOME desktop, he said.

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