Crashedata

I have had a few friends who play the online MMORPG RuneScape asking me lately, why after years of playing and with a character level in the 120s (one of my many characters in game) I quit about a year ago. So, I thought I would write this entry on why I quit the game for everyone to read. Yes, I understand that many of you did not know I ever played that game. But the main subject of this article isn’t really RuneScape. It is Oracle and Java.

Java was originally invented or “created” by a company called Sun Microsystems as an internal project in 1990. Java was not actually deployed for use on the World Wide Web (now simply referred to these days as the Internet) until 1994. At the time, and up to about 2001 most Java applications were pretty simple. Many were online chat rooms. There were some simple games, and simple programs, but most that every day users encountered were not very advanced at all. Then, on January 4th 2001 the beta for RuneScape “Classic” (at the time simply referred to as RuneScape) was released, and was powered by Java.

I was one of the earliest players of RuneScape. I started playing within the first 1 to 2 months of the Beta. I can remember a time before the pay-to-play members version, and even a time before the wilderness. I remember when you could attack anyone within 3 levels lower than your level (if I remember correctly it was 3) and anyone of a higher level, just about anywhere in the game. Back then it was common to see a level 25 calling a level 11 a noob. Level 50 players were even rare at first.

That version of RuneScape had some very basic NPC and player model graphics, known as “sprites” or avatars in modern lingo that were 2D pixelated representations of the players or NPCs on screen. It also had some (very) basic 3d graphics when it came to certain buildings and landscapes. It seemed primitive. However, when one takes into account that it was powered by Java and utilized a fairly advanced leveling system, it was impressive nonetheless.

On March 17th 2004 Jagex, the creators of RuneScape released RuneScape 2 (now known simply as RuneScape). This was a major graphical and engine overhaul. The new engine, which was likely re-made from the ground up, now allowed for an (almost) full 3D game, still powered by Java. Even the avatars were now 3D. While the graphics couldn’t compare to a game like World of Warcraft, for Java it was still an impressive feat.

On July 14th 2008 the third version of RuneScape was released. This version, referred to as RuneScape HD was another graphical and engine overhaul of RuneScape. It was at this point that RuneScape started supporting DirectX, OpenGL and Hardware Acceleration. The textures and graphics became much more detailed, and a full screen version was introduced. While it still could not match the graphics of MMOs that were actually installed on the computer, again, impressive for a Java powered game.

Then, on January 27th 2010, disaster struck (in my opinion). Sun Microsystems, the creator of Java was bought out by one of Sun’s biggest competitors, Oracle. Java (and one of the best Database engines on the planet, MySQL) were now owned by a much more aggressive and anti-open source company (again, opinion). As soon as Oracle had the patents that were owned by Sun, they started getting sue happy on Open Source supporters, including Google (for its Android mobile OS).

Oracle was showing (to me) that it could not be trusted to care for Java (or MySQL, which is Open Source). Unfortunately, I am forced for the time being to use MySQL on my sites (as that is what WordPress is defaulted to and I don’t have time to figure out how to integrate PostgreSQL), however, I abandoned all applications that I used that were powered by Java and not absolutely necessary that I use.

I still use some Java powered applications at work, simply due to a lack of better solutions. I abandoned everything else Java based, including RuneScape. Every once and a while, I still use alternative Java Plugins not created by Oracle (such as IcedTea in Linux), but I will not touch (especially at home) the official Java. If I can help it, I avoid Oracle like the plague. To me, they are like the Lich King in World of Warcraft… the ultimate evil.

If anyone reading this has experience in using PostgreSQL with WordPress, let me know in the comments. I might have to pick your brains so I can get rid of MySQL as well.