[brailleblaster] Re: Another off-topic request for SWT information
- From: Michael Whapples <mwhapples@xxxxxxx>
- To: brailleblaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 30 Aug 2011 23:56:06 +0100
It is a disadvantage as far as it is technically possible to include libraries
for all platforms as the JNA developers do. It just spoils the Java idea of
compile once run everywhere by needing different JAR files for different
platforms.
May be there is more to why the SWT developers have separate releases for each
platform than I am thinking of.
Michael whapples
On 30 Aug 2011, at 23:45, John J. Boyer wrote:
> This discussion is not quite off-topic. SWT is important for
> BrailleBlaster, and we are learning from the discussion.
>
> I assume that an executable jar file is simply one that contains a Main
> class which is specified in the Manifest. brailleblaster.jar does.
>
> The fact that a different version of SWT is required for each platform
> and architecture is not really a disadvantage. It is necessary to
> provide a uniform and accessible Java API for different operationg
> systems.
>
> Swing may not require different versions for different platforms, but it
> is not accessibloe out of the box, as SWT is.
>
> John
>
> On Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 04:57:17PM -0500, Richard Baldwin wrote:
>> Thanks Michael and Chris,
>>
>> My apologies to the BrailleBlaster team for riding piggy-back on their
>> discussion List, but I knew that is where I could find the expertise that I
>> needed. <smile>.
>>
>> For now, I'm in the prototype stage, so I think I will go with separate jar
>> files.
>>
>> Dick Baldwin
>>
>> On Tue, Aug 30, 2011 at 4:50 PM, Chris von See <chris@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi Dick -
>>>
>>> I'll try to answer your questions below.
>>>
>>> Cheers
>>> Chris
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> On Aug 30, 2011, at 2:24 PM, Richard Baldwin wrote:
>>>
>>> 1. The labs at the college where I teach can't yet support 64-bit Java but
>>> my home computer can. So far, I haven't installed the 64-bit version on my
>>> home computer because I didn't have a need for 64-bit Java. Now I do have a
>>> need. Can the 32-bit version and the 64-bit version of Java peacefully
>>> coexist on the same Windows Vista Home Premium system? Some users of my
>>> program are running 64-bit Java and I need to upgrade my computer to act as
>>> a test platform for both 32-bit and 64-bit Java/SWT if possible.
>>>
>>>
>>> CvS: Yes - I have this configuration on my Windows 7 system. The 32-bit
>>> version will get installed in "C:\Program Files (x86)\Java" and the 64-bit
>>> version will get installed in "C:\Program Files\Java". You'll just need to
>>> invoke each version of Java from its respective install location.
>>>
>>>
>>> 2. I am experimenting for the first time with executable jar files. Can the
>>> 32-bit and 64-bit SWT DLL files be included in the same executable jar file,
>>> or will I need to create separate Jar files to support users who are running
>>> 32-bit Java and other users who are running 64-bit Java?
>>>
>>>
>>> CvS: I've not tried this, so I can't say for sure. I'm guessing that it's
>>> possible, but you may have to fiddle with it a bit in order to make it work.
>>> My personal preference is to build separate executable JARs for each
>>> architecture and platform (including Mac and Linux), since the build process
>>> is trivial and having separate JARs allows you to customize your classpath,
>>> native load library path, etc. for each combination.
>>>
>>>
>>> On another note, I have posted a 32-bit executable jar file containing the
>>> prototype of my "Drawing Program for Blind Users" at the following URL. I
>>> expect to update it from time to time to add new features.
>>>
>>> http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/SWT-SVG/SVGDraw01.jar
>>>
>>> I would appreciate hearing your comments and suggestions for improvement.
>>>
>>>
>>> CvS: I'll be happy to take a look later and give you some feedback.
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>> --
>> Richard G. Baldwin (Dick Baldwin)
>> Home of Baldwin's on-line Java Tutorials
>> http://www.DickBaldwin.com
>>
>> Professor of Computer Information Technology
>> Austin Community College
>> (512) 223-4758
>> mailto:Baldwin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> http://www.austincc.edu/baldwin/
>
> --
> John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer
> Abilitiessoft, Inc.
> http://www.abilitiessoft.com
> Madison, Wisconsin USA
> Developing software for people with disabilities
>
>
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