Los programadores que usamos Python, no dependemos de herramientas externas al lenguaje en la forma que se depende de ellas cuando se usa un lenguaje como Java.

I can't tell you how many times I've heard people say they wouldn't use Ruby because it lacks automated refactoring tools. Ruby doesn't actually need them in the way Java does; it's like refusing to switch to an electric car because there's no place to put the gasoline. But programmers are a stubborn bunch, and to win them over you have to give them what they think they want.

http://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2007/02/next-big-language.html

Una buena noticia! Con la misma licencia que el kernel Linux fué liberada la implemenación de Java de Sun Microsystems. Acabo de leer en la web de Sun:

http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/java/

Sun started a revolution with Java technology 10 years ago. With a free (N del R: gratis) runtime, an open specification, and a platform-independent promise of compatibility, Java technology became a gold standard in embedded devices, mobile phones, on the desktop and within the enterprise. Now, in 2006, Sun is open sourcing its implementations of Java technology as Free/Libre software.

y..

http://www.sun.com/2006-1113/feature/index.jsp

13.November.2006—Sun believes deeply in creating communities and sharing innovations and technologies to foster more participation. Today in a historic move, Sun is opening the door to greater innovation by open sourcing key Java implementations—Java Platform Standard Edition (Java SE), Java Platform Micro Edition (Java ME), and Java Platform Enterprise Edition (Java EE)—under the GNU General Public License version 2 (GPLv2), the same license as GNU/Linux.