# Satirical announcement about modifying access modifiers in open-source Java projects

DevFeed: [Satirical announcement about modifying access modifiers in open-source Java projects](<https://devfeed.tech/articles/wikileaks-to-leak-5000-open-source-java-projects-with-all-that-private-final-bullshit-removed-38773.md>)

Original publisher: [Read original article](<https://steve-yegge.blogspot.com/2010/07/wikileaks-to-leak-5000-open-source-java.html>)

Author: Steve Yegge (noreply@blogger.com)

Published: 2010-07-28T20:40:00Z

Content type: opinion

Language: en

Sources: [Steve Yegge](<https://devfeed.tech/sources/steve-yegge.md>)

Topics: [Java](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/java.md>), [Open Source](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/open-source.md>), [Code](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/code.md>), [Java Language](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/java-language.md>), [class](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/class.md>), [constructor](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/constructor.md>), [deprecated](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/deprecated.md>), [Perl](<https://devfeed.tech/topics/perl.md>)

Tags: [class](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/class.md>), [code](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/code.md>), [constructor](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/constructor.md>), [deprecated](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/deprecated.md>), [java](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/java.md>), [open-source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/open-source.md>), [perl](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/perl.md>), [projects](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/projects.md>), [source](<https://devfeed.tech/tags/source.md>)

## AI overview

This satirical article describes a purported Wikileaks announcement to re-release open-source Java projects after changing access modifiers, removing most final and deprecated declarations, adding public constructors, and exposing fields.

## Source excerpt

EYJAFJÖLL, ICELAND -- Java programmers around the globe are in a panic today over a Wikileaks press release issued at 8:15am GMT. Wikileaks announced that they will re-release the source code for thousands of Open Source Java projects, making all access modifiers 'public' and all classes and members non-'final'. Agile Java Developer Johnnie Garza of Irvine, CA condemns the move. "They have no right to do this. Open Source does not mean the source is somehow 'open'. That's my code, not theirs. If I make something private, it means that no matter how desperately you need to call it, I should be able to prevent you from doing so, even long after I've gone to the grave." According to the Wikileaks press release, millions of Java source files have been run through a Perl script that removes all 'final' keywords except those required for hacking around the 15-year-old Java language's "fucking embarrassing lack of closures." Moreover, the Perl script gives every Java class at least one public constructor, and turns all fields without getters/setters into public fields. "The script yanks out all that @deprecated shit, too," claims the controversial announcement. Longtime Java programmer Ronnie Lloyd of Austin, TX is offended by the thought of people instantiating his private classes. "It's just common sense," said Lloyd, who is 37. "If I buy you a house and put the title in your name, but I mark some of the doors 'Employees Only', then you're not allowed to open those doors, even though it's your house. Because it's really my house, even though I gave it to you to live in." Pacing and frowning thoughtfully, Lloyd continued: "Even if I go away forever and you live there for 20 years and you know exactly what's behind the doors -- heck, even if it's a matter of life and death -- plain old common sense still dictates that you're never, ever allowed to open them for any reason." "It's for your own protection," Lloyd added. Wesley Doyle, a Java web developer in Toronto, Canada is m