TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Jan 96 Factory Floor
Volume Number:12
Issue Number:1
Column Tag:From The Factory Floor

Java Talk

By Dave Mark

You, the MacTech readership, have been long asking for a Metrowerks presence in the magazine. This is the first in a brand new series of articles by longtime MacTech columnist Dave Mark. Dave recently joined forces with Metrowerks to produce a series of CD-ROM based programming products. This month, Dave interviews Greg Galanos, president and CEO of Metrowerks, about Metrowerks’ recent announcement on their new Java development environment.

Dave: Metrowerks just announced the first Mac-based Java development environment. What can you tell me about it?

Greg: We’ve been tracking Java for over a year now, noting the developments in the field and the positioning of the language with respect to Internet development. A little over four months ago, we initiated contact with Sun and developed a complementary position in order to properly support Java programming and Internet development within CodeWarror.

The Sun deal was signed a couple of days before Comdex. It is both a licensing and a development deal where Metrowerks will license compiler technology, runtime interpreters, Java classes that support cross platform development, as well as the HotJava browser. These technologies will be seamlessly merged with the CodeWarrior Development Environment in order to bring them to our user base as a first developer release in May. This means we’ll support source-level debugging, browsing and compiling as if you were working with C/C++ or Object Pascal within the IDE.

Dave: If you want to produce Java applets, you’ll have to learn the Java programming language, something akin to learning C++. Do you think Metrowerks will ever offer a way for non-programmers to produce Java applets?

Greg: Ahh, the holy grail.... Metrowerks is committed to building better, easier-to-use tools. I suppose the cryptic response would be to say that we will support Java in much the same way that Borland will support Java.... The answer here is that we will strive to do so but it’s not a short-term proposition. This will take time, but yes, we are moving quickly towards that goal and will be taking Constructor down that road.

Dave: What is Sun’s role in all this?

Greg: Sun has been working on different manifestations of Java for about 5 years. It came out of some pretty serious R&D efforts into embedded appliance systems. It was found at that time that C++ was not ideal for embedded, secure development because of what Sun calls unsafe language features: pointers, operator overloading, multiple inheritance and the absence of garbage collection. (Note: multiple inheritence is available in the Java interface, but not in the classes themselves). Java is a language that is very close to C++ without the features that are considered insecure or dangerous, especially for a languge designed for building programs that are downloaded to your desktop machine and which will then run there.

Sun is doing some very interesting things in order to nurture Java and cross-platform Java implementation. For instance, they are licensing their technology and working with strategically chosen desktop partners in tools (Metrowerks, Borland), communications (Netscape, Spyglass), content development (Macromedia, others). But they are also controlling the technology and the language standard until the language is embedded, so to speak, in Internet development in order to stave off the featuritis that comes from standards committees (I point to C++ as a specific example of this). This is a good thing - actually the reverse of what usually happens with a new language.

Finally, Sun is controlling and furthering the security technology that will guarantee that a Java applet is, in effect, secure. Part of the technology licensed from Sun addresses the areas of security and validation, what is applied to the Java byte code stream once it passes the threshhold of your particular desktop machine.

Metrowerks and Sun have teamed up to ensure that Macintosh plays an important role in Java development. This relationship is both one of making the tools available to our customers in a timely manner (WWDC) and also working with Sun on market-creation strategies. MW has licensed all the Sun technology and will be rolling new technology into its Java products as time progresses. Of course, Metrowerks will also be developing new technology for Java, optimization techniques for runtime improvements, AWT (abstract windowing toolkit) support, interface building tools, etc. This is a long term play for us and we intend to support our customers in their quest to program the net and increase their own revenues.

Dave: Will developers have to pay any royalties on applets they build using JavaWerks? Are there any licensing issues developers need to be aware of?

Greg: Wow, “JavaWerks”! Quick, let’s get a trademark! Seriously though, applet developers shouldn’t have to worry too much about licensing issues unless they are also shipping the byte code interpreters. Sun is striving to make this technology an open platform; therefore there are no direct royalties or other costs associated with developing and shipping applets. Java implementers such as Metrowerks and the other Java official licensees bear the burden of the royalties in a distributed manner, so it makes a lot of sense from a developer’s standpoint. The implementers are held to a very high standard and must pass all sorts of validation suites before shipping their toolsuite. This is because Sun absolutely wants Java to be cross-platform, and for this to be achieved much more validation must be applied to the tools to ensure that the compilers generate the proper byte code for any particular release.

Dave: What impact do you think Java applets will have on more mainstream application development? For example, do you think we’ll ever see a Java word processor or spreadsheet applet? If so, how will folks pay for it?

Greg: I think there are really two markets here. The first is the development of applets or small applications that live on a Web server and execute a specialized function that an end-user wants to acquire. I’ll take the easy example: Imagine a specialized applet that implements peer-to-peer communication with a stock quote server (local Java applet talks to remote Java applet) and warns you when you should buy or sell. An end user is likely to see value in this applet and be prepared to pay a price of (let’s say) $9.95 a month for this service. Result: applet developer sells to end-user without traditional distribution channel. There are many, many examples of this from gardening, to cooking, to special travel deals, that a consumer will be interested in procuring in the home directly from the service provider.

The second market is for today’s applications vendors (our customers) to hotwire their application to the Internet either by implementing applets in their application suite that can be sent off across the net to “do something” or by embedding applet technology in their application to host applets that are downloaded from the net. This could be as simple as running the applet in a web browser, or as complicated as allowing the applet to actually “plug in” to the application itself. Again, the consumer could then choose from any specialized applet that is destined to work with ClarisWorks or FreeHand or Illustrator, to give a few examples. Look at the Java runtime model as a very lightweight, multi-threaded container architecture without SOM and the fragile base class problem that happens to be the Achilles’ heel of C++. This is a powerful concept.

Dave: Java is normally compiled into byte-code, then interpreted. Will there ever be a fully compiled Java with no interpreter in the loop?

Greg: Essentially, the byte code runs on the Java virtual machine (the interpreter) which translates the byte-code into native instructions. I think you’ll see both just-in-time compilers and hybrid dynamic/intepreted compilers that will be necessary to speed up local execution. So the answer is Yes. The real question is: “When?”

Dave: Where can people go to get more information?

Greg: Well, the fastest way to get to all the hot Java sites is to go to http://www.metrowerks.com. We have a full hookup to licenses sites, user sites, Sun’s numerous sites. The other place you can go is to http://java.sun.com (but we point there too!). There’s also the newly created newsgroup news:comp.lang.java which has nearly as much traffic as comp.sys.mac.programmer.codewarrior. The Java newsgroup is nearly absent of Mac programmers, who have not had the tools to date. We definitely are going to change this. You can also send email to java@metrowerks.com to receive info on beta testing.

Dave: Who the heck is Duke, and why is he stealing Ahnold’s limelight?

Greg: Hey, Duke’s cool. He’s the Java mascot, a molar-shaped imp with a red nose carrying a surfboard. I can just see Arnold surfing the web jolted out of his brain on this Java stuff. Arnold and Duke are buddies. Arnold is Duke’s protector. Like Terminator II, yeah.

 

Community Search:
MacTech Search:

Software Updates via MacUpdate

Latest Forum Discussions

See All

Whitethorn Games combines two completely...
If you have ever gone fishing then you know that it is a lesson in patience, sitting around waiting for a bite that may never come. Well, that's because you have been doing it wrong, since as Whitehorn Games now demonstrates in new release Skate... | Read more »
Call of Duty Warzone is a Waiting Simula...
It's always fun when a splashy multiplayer game comes to mobile because they are few and far between, so I was excited to see the notification about Call of Duty: Warzone Mobile (finally) launching last week and wanted to try it out. As someone who... | Read more »
Albion Online introduces some massive ne...
Sandbox Interactive has announced an upcoming update to its flagship MMORPG Albion Online, containing massive updates to its existing guild Vs guild systems. Someone clearly rewatched the Helms Deep battle in Lord of the Rings and spent the next... | Read more »
Chucklefish announces launch date of the...
Chucklefish, the indie London-based team we probably all know from developing Terraria or their stint publishing Stardew Valley, has revealed the mobile release date for roguelike deck-builder Wildfrost. Developed by Gaziter and Deadpan Games, the... | Read more »
Netmarble opens pre-registration for act...
It has been close to three years since Netmarble announced they would be adapting the smash series Solo Leveling into a video game, and at last, they have announced the opening of pre-orders for Solo Leveling: Arise. [Read more] | Read more »
PUBG Mobile celebrates sixth anniversary...
For the past six years, PUBG Mobile has been one of the most popular shooters you can play in the palm of your hand, and Krafton is celebrating this milestone and many years of ups by teaming up with hit music man JVKE to create a special song for... | Read more »
ASTRA: Knights of Veda refuse to pump th...
In perhaps the most recent example of being incredibly eager, ASTRA: Knights of Veda has dropped its second collaboration with South Korean boyband Seventeen, named so as it consists of exactly thirteen members and a video collaboration with Lee... | Read more »
Collect all your cats and caterpillars a...
If you are growing tired of trying to build a town with your phone by using it as a tiny, ineffectual shover then fear no longer, as Independent Arts Software has announced the upcoming release of Construction Simulator 4, from the critically... | Read more »
Backbone complete its lineup of 2nd Gene...
With all the ports of big AAA games that have been coming to mobile, it is becoming more convenient than ever to own a good controller, and to help with this Backbone has announced the completion of their 2nd generation product lineup with their... | Read more »
Zenless Zone Zero opens entries for its...
miHoYo, aka HoYoverse, has become such a big name in mobile gaming that it's hard to believe that arguably their flagship title, Genshin Impact, is only three and a half years old. Now, they continue the road to the next title in their world, with... | Read more »

Price Scanner via MacPrices.net

B&H has Apple’s 13-inch M2 MacBook Airs o...
B&H Photo has 13″ MacBook Airs with M2 CPUs and 256GB of storage in stock and on sale for up to $150 off Apple’s new MSRP, starting at only $849. Free 1-2 day delivery is available to most US... Read more
M2 Mac minis on sale for $100-$200 off MSRP,...
B&H Photo has Apple’s M2-powered Mac minis back in stock and on sale today for $100-$200 off MSRP. Free 1-2 day shipping is available for most US addresses: – Mac mini M2/256GB SSD: $499, save $... Read more
Mac Studios with M2 Max and M2 Ultra CPUs on...
B&H Photo has standard-configuration Mac Studios with Apple’s M2 Max & Ultra CPUs in stock today and on Easter sale for $200 off MSRP. Their prices are the lowest available for these models... Read more
Deal Alert! B&H Photo has Apple’s 14-inch...
B&H Photo has new Gray and Black 14″ M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max MacBook Pros on sale for $200-$300 off MSRP, starting at only $1399. B&H offers free 1-2 day delivery to most US addresses: – 14″ 8... Read more
Department Of Justice Sets Sights On Apple In...
NEWS – The ball has finally dropped on the big Apple. The ball (metaphorically speaking) — an antitrust lawsuit filed in the U.S. on March 21 by the Department of Justice (DOJ) — came down following... Read more
New 13-inch M3 MacBook Air on sale for $999,...
Amazon has Apple’s new 13″ M3 MacBook Air on sale for $100 off MSRP for the first time, now just $999 shipped. Shipping is free: – 13″ MacBook Air (8GB RAM/256GB SSD/Space Gray): $999 $100 off MSRP... Read more
Amazon has Apple’s 9th-generation WiFi iPads...
Amazon has Apple’s 9th generation 10.2″ WiFi iPads on sale for $80-$100 off MSRP, starting only $249. Their prices are the lowest available for new iPads anywhere: – 10″ 64GB WiFi iPad (Space Gray or... Read more
Discounted 14-inch M3 MacBook Pros with 16GB...
Apple retailer Expercom has 14″ MacBook Pros with M3 CPUs and 16GB of standard memory discounted by up to $120 off Apple’s MSRP: – 14″ M3 MacBook Pro (16GB RAM/256GB SSD): $1691.06 $108 off MSRP – 14... Read more
Clearance 15-inch M2 MacBook Airs on sale for...
B&H Photo has Apple’s 15″ MacBook Airs with M2 CPUs (8GB RAM/256GB SSD) in stock today and on clearance sale for $999 in all four colors. Free 1-2 delivery is available to most US addresses.... Read more
Clearance 13-inch M1 MacBook Airs drop to onl...
B&H has Apple’s base 13″ M1 MacBook Air (Space Gray, Silver, & Gold) in stock and on clearance sale today for $300 off MSRP, only $699. Free 1-2 day shipping is available to most addresses in... Read more

Jobs Board

Medical Assistant - Surgical Oncology- *Apple...
Medical Assistant - Surgical Oncology- Apple Hill Location: WellSpan Medical Group, York, PA Schedule: Full Time Sign-On Bonus Eligible Remote/Hybrid Regular Apply Read more
Omnichannel Associate - *Apple* Blossom Mal...
Omnichannel Associate - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Read more
Cashier - *Apple* Blossom Mall - JCPenney (...
Cashier - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Blossom Mall Read more
Operations Associate - *Apple* Blossom Mall...
Operations Associate - Apple Blossom Mall Location:Winchester, VA, United States (https://jobs.jcp.com/jobs/location/191170/winchester-va-united-states) - Apple Read more
Business Analyst | *Apple* Pay - Banco Popu...
Business Analyst | Apple PayApply now " Apply now + Apply Now + Start applying with LinkedIn Start + Please wait Date:Mar 19, 2024 Location: San Juan-Cupey, PR Read more
All contents are Copyright 1984-2011 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.