Eclipse is not just about Java anymore. It does Linux too.

In response to my post yesterday about InfoWorld noticing Eclipse's momentum (vs. NetBeans), ZDNet reader Mark Wielaard sent me the following via email:

I saw your article on why Eclipse is the defacto IDE for Java and your little bet with Tim Bray. I think you are right. But you didn't mention the main reason (imho). Eclipse is actually supported by the "non-Java" camp now. All the major GNU/Linux distributions are now shipping Eclipse as native binary build with gcj/GNU Classpath and at the next GNU Classpath/gcj conference there will be multiple talks on Eclipse opportunities in the Free Software space  (by both GNU and Eclipse hackers). All this makes Eclipse a platform that is "free" from its Java ties, while Netbeans will drag with it the proprietary Java platform. Eclipse (RCP) combined with the GCC/GCJ is a free platform on itself now.

So here's the question for Sun's Simon Phipps and Tim Bray: Is 2006 the year that NetBeans begins to unhitch its wagon from the Java horse (making it hitchable to other horses as well)?