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Debian GNU/Linux Java FAQ.
Chapter 4 - Status of Java in Debian GNU/Linux 3.1 (Sarge)

4.1 Are there many changes?

Yes, quite some. There have been very interesting developments in Debian Java lately. Slowly, there seem be developed a set of Debian tools to deal with maintaining Debian package of Java applications and libraries. At this moment, there only seems to be dh_javadoc, which is a tool in the gjdoc package. However, people spoke about other tools on the debian-java mailing list in 2003.

In addition to this, ant has found its way into main, paving to way for other packages to enter main.

And the eclipse seems to get rather stable. Early August 2003, the gcj team even was able to compile the IDE to native code, using only minor modifications.

It is quite useful to first browse the section on Java in Debian GNU/Linux Woody (since those in woody are also in testing, see Status of Java in Debian GNU/Linux 3.0 (Woody), Chapter 3), but there are somes changes. Instead of listing all the packages again, this section will, for now, list only changes:

• eclipse An extensive IDE

• sablevm A free Virtual Machine

• free-java-sdk A free Java SDK (compiled from DSFG compliant Java tools)

• libgnome0-java Java bindings to Gnome GUI library

• gjdoc A Javadoc 1.3 replacement (90% of Doclet API implemented)

• kaffe Release 1.1.3 can run much more software than 1.0.5 in woody

• ant Version 1.6 is in main

The following packages are no longer in testing/unstable:

• libswing-java Which is mention here: How can I make a DFSG compliant Java GUI program?, Section 5.4.

4.2 Which Java package are in main?

At the time of writing, 60 Java packages were found in main, of which 39 were Java libraries. To see the list of packages in main (i.e., not contrib and non-free), try:

     grep-available -F Depends -sSection,Package java | paste -sd "  \n" | \
       grep -v contrib | grep -v non-free | sort

Contrib, has an additional 68 packages, which can be found with a command similar as the one above.

The pkg-java website also maintains a list (probably more up to date) of java packages.

4.3 What keeps packages out of main?

An overview of packages that are still not in main is found at this Wiki site: MovingToMain.

The current status, as of this writing (june 2004) is that there is progress of moving packages that use Java but can be run without the aid of non-free software from contrib to main. A number of packages have been moved to main and new releases of GNU Classpath, SableVM, and Kaffe promise further steps ahead. Two of the major issues currently being looked at are making gjdoc a proper javadoc replacement and building ant with Free Software only. People wanting to help can start by inspecting packages labeled as unknown on the Java to main wiki

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Debian GNU/Linux Java FAQ.