Oracle Shmoracle: Gosling tells all.

This was an interesting read on why James Gosling (of I Created Java fame) doesn't work for Oracle. I was never a big fan of Oracle. Now even less.

Making his point about the “creepiness,” not only with Ellison but with Oracle’s power structure, Gosling said he sparked a notion to try to improve morale amongst the Sun faithful who endured the Oracle acquisition. He said the company decided to rent out the Great America amusement park in Santa Clara, Calif., and allow the Sun folks to have a day of fun. Scott McNealy and Sun CEO Jonathan Schwartz signed off on the project that came in well under budget and all systems were go, Gosling said. Except a few days before the event was to occur, Oracle Co-President Safra Catz got wind of it and put the kibosh on the thing.

“Safra found out and had a fit,” Gosling said. “The word came down that Oracle does not do employee appreciation events. So she forced the thing to be cancelled. But they didn’t save any money because the money had been spent – so we ended up giving the tickets to charities. We were forced to give it up because it wasn’t the ‘Oracle Way.’ On the other hand, Oracle sponsors this sailboat for about $200 million.”

I don't like their database, I don't like their litigiousness, and I apparently wouldn't like working for them. It sounds like corporate hell. And now they have Java, with which I make my livelihood. Bah.

However:

Gosling said he has no concerns about Java’s fate under Oracle.

“I’m actually not very concerned about Java at Oracle, because Java’s really acquired a life of its own,” Gosling said. “There’s only so much damage Oracle can do, because so much of their business depends on Java. It’s in their best interest to treat it well.”

That's good news, I guess.