Re: Credible rumor that deserves serious consideration, IMHO

  • From: Chris Hofstader <cdh@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: programmingblind@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Mon, 11 Oct 2010 10:28:49 -0400

My understanding of the JAB is that part of it lives in the Java VM and the 
other part is something like a DLL. The Window-Eyes solution seems to use the 
part inside the VM but not the DLL portion so it should work without the JAB 
being installed. I'm not 100% certain of this but I have a high degree of 
confidence that it is true.

If Oracle stops developing the accessibility code in the VM, some real problems 
for users with disability will start to occur as it deteriorates. I do not know 
the source code status of the "official" Java VM but Oracle may now have a 
trademark argument saying that if a VM doesn't comply precisely with the one 
from Oracle itself that you cannot call it "Java" which will make some things 
really ambiguous.

cdh
On Oct 11, 2010, at 10:04 AM, Jamal Mazrui wrote:

> I just found the latest manual install version of the JAB, and am making the 
> archive available here:
> 
> http://EmpowermentZone.com/accessbridge-2_0_1-manual_install.zip
> 
> The included source code appears to be related to installation and examples 
> rather than the Bridge, itself.  The license seems to be proprietary and 
> restrictive, rather than libra.  Not sure, but I think the code Jay developed 
> for Window-Eyes is independent of the JAB code base.
> 
> If I am mistaken about any of these points, I hope someone will clarify.
> 
> Jamal
> 
> On 10/10/2010 1:18 PM, Chris Hofstader wrote:
> > I had thought that the bridge was free software (either GPL 2.x or LGPL) 
> > but I am not certain. It was written in straight C code and, last time I 
> > looked (about 7 years ago) it was a rat's nest of complete code weirdness.
> >
> > I had thought that the guy who did the Window-Eyes script for Java was able 
> > to work around the bridge and, as a result, provide a more comprehensive 
> > and performant Java experience.
> >
> > Our little PhD candidate from NC was also working on something that didn't 
> > require the bridge bu that was a few years ago and there are some hardcore 
> > accessibility API problems regarding tree views and other popular controls 
> > that make working with it pretty much a pain in the rectum.
> >
> > Some of these same problems exist in the Gnome API and the people at Gnome 
> > Foundation are trying to address them but with limited resources they can 
> > only do so much especially as they are hunkered down in fox holes working 
> > on Gnome 3 and the switch to DBus.
> >
> > HH,
> > cdh
> >
> > On Oct 10, 2010, at 10:48 AM, Jamal Mazrui wrote:
> >
> >> Is the Java Access Bridge open source?
> >>
> >> Jamal
> >>
> >>
> >> On 10/9/2010 3:49 PM, Chris Hofstader wrote:
> >>> Even while in Sun, the Java Access Bridge has had virtually no resources 
> >>> working on it for a few years now; all Oracle did was make it official.
> >>>
> >>> Oracle also got OpenOffice.org as part of the Sun deal and a new 
> >>> organization, The Document Foundation, has forked the code base and is 
> >>> now calling it Libre Office. If one person is good at working on things 
> >>> like the Access Bridge he or she can take ownership of it and try to keep 
> >>> it moving forward as well as round up volunteers to help out. It's not a 
> >>> simple program as it needs to work on a whole pile of different OS and OS 
> >>> versions.
> >>>
> >>> cdh
> >>> On Oct 8, 2010, at 10:15 PM, Jamal Mazrui wrote:
> >>>
> >>>> I heard from a good source today that Oracle has decided to discontinue 
> >>>> support for the Java Access Bridge (and no alternative is planned).  I 
> >>>> would be glad to be convinced otherwise.  If anyone has information 
> >>>> regarding this topic, please share.
> >>>>
> >>>> Jamal
> >>>>
> >>>> __________
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