#AboutLastWeek: Angular 2 steps forward and Google ruffles Oracle’s feathers
Ripped paper with word weekly report image via Shutterstock
Each Monday we take a step back and analyze what has happened in the previous week. Last week we received exciting news from the Angular 2 team, the legal battle between Oracle and Google debuted in force and Australian academic Craig Wright promised to prove that he is the creator of Bitcoin, but then changed his mind and went (back) into the ether. But that’s not all folks!
On the road to Angular 2
The first release candidate is finally out! The biggest change is the repackaging of Angular into individual packages one per each feature area. All of the packages are now provided under the @angular npm scope. In short, this changes how Angular is installed via npm and how users import the code.
Angular 2 is out of Beta. Now in release candidates. Full details at #ngconf.https://t.co/NkS4QR9mFI pic.twitter.com/4V07Rr5WI8
— Angular (@angularjs) May 3, 2016
Shortly after the first release candidate was announced, the Angular 2 team issued a security warning: “contextual escaping is not yet implemented in Angular 2.” A few days later, the team announced other breaking changes —namely that HTML, style values, and URLs are now automatically sanitized.
Exciting times ahead as we are approaching the moment we’ve all been waiting for: Angular 2.
Oracle v. Google: The final countdown
The API battle between Oracle and Google has been brought back to life and it is going full speed ahead. The trial could go either way, since U.S. District Judge William Alsup (the same person who decided that APIs should not be eligible for copyright) said in the set of instructions published in early May that “Google did not have the right to use the exact lines of declaring code and the overall structure, sequence, and organization of the 37 API packages,” but also claimed that the jurors should consider the extent to which they find it was necessary for the search giant to use both the declaring code and organization of the 37 API packages to write in Java.
Still, the question remains: What are the repercussions of this legal battle? Tweets continue to pour as people express their fears and frustrations with regard to the fate of this renewed nightmare.
In Oracle vs Android all Google needs is show this screen to the jury and ask if this company deserves $9 billion pic.twitter.com/voBy8a7aiK
— Owen Williams ⚡️ (@ow) May 11, 2016
Oracle v. Google copyright retrail won’t bring clarification on APIs https://t.co/YOqw9vLxu8 #oragog ##android #java #copyright #fairuse
— Florian Mueller (@FOSSpatents) May 9, 2016
If Oracle wins, the idea of copyrighting a Java API would become the norm —one that may bring about a plethora of changes. First of all, Android may have to modify the way it’s designed. Unless Google manages to convince its executioners that it transformed those Java APIs into a masterpiece, Android could become unrecognizable. Second, if Oracle’s lawyers manage to establish that the Java APIs are indeed protected by copyright, so can anyone’s lawyers —especially since a huge number of services offer APIs to build certain products or services into third-party websites, apps, etc. If Google’s ace in the hole [Fair use] is demolished, such a precedent could spark replicas across the tech world.
Bitcoin godfather is still MIA
Australian professor and tech entrepreneur Craig Wright identified himself as the creator of Bitcoin, only to change his mind and take down his website.
I believed that I could do this. I believed that I could put the years of anonymity and hiding behind me. But, as the events of this week unfolded and I prepared to publish the proof of access to the earliest keys, I broke. I do not have the courage. I cannot.
When the rumors began, my qualifications and character were attacked. When those allegations were proven false, new allegations have already begun. I know now that I am not strong enough for this.
I know that this weakness will cause great damage to those that have supported me, and particularly to Jon Matonis and Gavin Andresen. I can only hope that their honour and credibility is not irreparably tainted by my actions. They were not deceived, but I know that the world will never believe that now. I can only say I’m sorry.
And goodbye.
His sudden departure wouldn’t be too big of a problem if people like Bitcoin developer Gavin Andresen didn’t give him a vote of confidence.
In my head today: Truth is stranger than fiction. And: People are weird.
— Gavin Andresen (@gavinandresen) May 3, 2016
Screenshot Twitter conversation
TrumptScript is real!
On a more cheerful note, JAXenter presented the most interesting esoteric programming languages. The icing on the cake is TrumpScript, a language inspired by the life and quotes of the U.S. presidential candidate Donald Trump. Four Rice University students decided that “the current field of programming languages does not include any that Trump’s glorious golden combover would approve of” and designed something worthy of a presidential candidate during a 36-hour hackathon.
The list also includes LOLCODE, Shakespeare, Whenever, Chef and Malbolge.
That’s a funny read: Wackiest #programming languages: TrumpScript et al. https://t.co/7SySljflB8@gabriela_motrocpic.twitter.com/sgfACj8CgI
— Eugene Rudenko (@evgenktulu) May 13, 2016
Plus, if you want to see the evolution of the debate regarding Eclipse Papyrus, keep an eye on JAXenter.com.
