Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 13:46:44 +0930 (CST) From: Greg Lewis <glewis@trc.adelaide.edu.au> To: John Daniels <jmd526@hotmail.com> Cc: freebsd-java@freebsd.org Subject: Re: JDK1.2.2 Message-ID: <200004210416.NAA37572@ares.trc.adelaide.edu.au> In-Reply-To: <20000420225653.65449.qmail@hotmail.com> from John Daniels at "Apr 20, 2000 06:56:53 pm"
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Hi John,
> I have a project that I would like to use Java for. I would like to use the
> latest version: 1.2.2, but I am a bit reluctant to use software that is
> termed "Pre-Alpha." Can anyone comment on the stability of the pre-alpha
> jdk, especially since the blackdown port is available as a reference (or
> bootstrap) - is FreeBSD's "pre-alpha" as stable as Blackdown's current
> version?
I don't know that the current port has undergone enough stress testing to
have a proper indication of its stability. For that reason alone I'd have
to guess the current Blackdown version is more stable.
> I am running FreeBSD 4.0-RELEASE. Mr. Koster's web pages state that the
> pre-alpha is does not build cleanly on 4.0 systems. Is this still the case?
The current patchset will build cleanly, however its missing a critical
piece of functionality for 4.0 and 5.0. Expect this functionality to be
present in the next patchset though (thanks Steve!) which will almost
certainly be termed "alpha".
> What advantages/disadvantages are there to using a native Java over the
> blackdown Java running under Linux emulation? Most of the Java ports
> require JDK1.1.8, how difficult/possible is it to use those ports with 1)
> "native" 1.2.2, 2) linux-based blackdown 1.2.2?
To answer the first question:
Advantage: Its much easier to do JNI with a native port.
Disadvantage: The Blackdown port has been tested much more thoroughly and
includes a JIT (you need to compile a 3rd party JIT with
the current FreeBSD patches -- if you want one that is).
In terms of your second question, it depends upon the ports in question.
> Sun's Forte IDE is now available ("Free") under Sun's community license -
> are there any plans to port this? Also, I understand that someone has IBM's
> visualage for Java working under FreeBSD - could that be made into a port?
Can't comment on these :).
> There seem to be many difficulties working with Sun. Even the Blackdown
> people have had difficulties (as described on their website). This may not
> be nefarious - it may just be a matter of scarce resources. But it seems
> that the more that we can show a need for Sun's attention, the better. As
> such, is it possible to get support from Apple, since OSX users may benefit
> from a Java port?
Only Apple can answer this :). I don't know how beneficial the current
port would be towards a port of their own.
--
Greg Lewis glewis@trc.adelaide.edu.au
Computing Officer +61 8 8303 5083
Teletraffic Research Centre
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