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Posts: 425 | Thanked: 132 times | Joined on Mar 2008 @ California
#10
So... Java is basically a problem because of licensing issues. The processor which the tablets use is an ARM OMAP2 processor manufactured by TexasInstruments. This processor has a wonderful feature known as a hardware Java interpreter which is included to speed up execution of java bytecode by bypassing the need for a VirtualMachine (which java apps usually run in) However, for some lame reason, apparently related to licensing, Nokia didn't include the drivers for this part of the processor, and therefore, instead of having native Java like we should, we have none.

There have been several attempts to get Java running on the tablets in the "normal" fashion, which means using a software interpreter, called a "Java Virtual Machine" The most successful of these projects is Jalimo which I'm currently using It works beautifully, if a little slowly.

However, it cannot be used for most Java applications like the risk one you pointed to because Jalimo doesn't include the Swing or AWT libraries. (These are the libraries Java uses to create Graphical User Interfaces) Instead Jalimo uses an open source, cross platform set of libraries developed by the Eclipse project, known as the SWT libraries (Standard Widget Toolkit). So any Java program that uses a graphical interface needs to be ported to use the SWT libraries instead.

So, in a nutshell, java is a problem because we lack a standard java interpreter.

Why this is the case is a source of frustration to me, because as of now, Java is my favorite language for programming in. But I guess I'll just have to move to Python or Ruby, both of which work beautifully on the NIT.

Back to the risk topic:
ukki said he compiled and ran Xfrisk on his device in his reply earlier in the thread, I'd suggest PMing him and asking him for a package, as that seems to be the most promising of all the Risk clones I've looked at.

I would try and compile it, but I'm having problems getting the GCC toolchain set up on my N810.

Anyway, sorry for the long rambling post, Hope this helps a little bit
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Last edited by josiahg777; 2008-06-22 at 06:43.
 

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