Software patents in general are bad, but far worse when the software is a development tool (e.g. Java/JVM/some core dev tool). A patent issue on an app I write

Software patents in general are bad, but far worse when the software is a development tool (e.g. Java/JVM/some core dev tool). A patent issue on an app I write can be easily resolved (pay the fine, royalties, etc.) and re-write that code. But when the underlying bits that I've built on are in question, I'm screwed. I think that sums it up for Google. They picked the wrong platform for the right reason (lot's of Java devs) and they hoped Sun would continue to be nice about it. Sun is gone now and all bets are off. As developers, if we want our apps to have futures or to at least have some control over our own future, then we must use entirely free foundational tools (ISO standard programming languages with public domain/GPL/BSD/ licensed compilers and libraries) or be willing to face the consequences. Nothing compares to the rug being jerked out from under you. Except for when they jerk the foundation that the rug sits on out from under you. Google will learn this lesson the hard way. I hope they have a serious plan B.