[BLACKBOX] BB, Linux, and Java

From: Douglas G. Danforth <"Douglas>
Date: Fri, 23 May 2008 21:30:32 -0700

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BB, Linux, and Java

Folks,

Why not use the Java Virtual Machine on which to run BlackBox?
If that could be done then BB would become multi platform and
Linux would be automatically included.

With a little poking I found tha java.AWT is the Abstract Windowing
Toolkit from which GUI's can be formed.

o The Component Pascal compiler would need to generate java bytecodes.
I believe Esmertec has done this already.

o Host files would need to be written only once and call the equivalent
java libraries.

o The 'look and feel' of BlackBox would become whatever the AWT software
generated on each platform. This may be a big issue for Oberon
Microsystems since (I believe) the essence of their design goal was to
make BB look like the native software on each platform. I do not know
whether Java adapts (adopts) the look and feel of the underlying
operating system.

o Speed may be the main issue, but it is claimed that the just in time
compilers are approximately as fast as native compiles (for C++).

o Module linking and loading would need to run on the virtual machine.

In my ignorance it seems like this is the (conceptual) way to go.

Alternatively one could give up the 'look and feel' issue and return to
the original Oberon design of a single appearance for all platforms.
This would make porting to various platforms much simpler as was
demonstrated by the rapid spread of Oberon IV. I would suggest that the
Windows look and feel be adopted as the standard. But then Mac and
Linux people probably would disagree.

I am throwing this out simply to get some feedback.

-Doug Danforth

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Received on Sat May 24 2008 - 06:30:32 UTC