🚀 go-pugleaf

Michel Tourn <tourn@dma.epfl.ch> wrote:
[snip]
>Since we still add features, we want to keep as much code in common
>as possible for both platforms. The old-fashioned (but reasonable)
>solution is to use a (more or less multiplatform) API framework. The
>new solution is, guess what... java.
[snip]
>So, before we trash some C++ framework solution in favour of java, I
>would like to hear good reasons of doing so or not.

>More precisely, given the application description that I will give
>next, I would like to know whether java for this task (porting Mac
>software to PC):

>- is appropriate. 
>- is worth the effort. (compared to the C++ framework solution)
[snip]

Hi Michel,

My general feeling about Java is that, yes, it *will be* a good
platform independent GUI framework one day. It is now quite a good
language, and there are some nice IDEs appearing for it now
(Symantec's Cafe springs to mind), and for OO app programming it is a
reasonably good fit. 

However, the GUI framework may be a little limiting today. There are
much better GUI frameworks around, although they don't generally try
to do all (any?) of the non-GUI stuff (container classes, network
stuff etc.) The Java AWT could do with some more form-oriented GUI
objects.

Remember, too, that it is still a Version 1.0 language! This is not to
be under-estimated!

Good luck with your choice, and drop in on the Platform Independent
GUI FAQ (PIGUI FAQ) for a list of some other frameworks. See:

    http://www.zeta.org.au/~rosko/pigui.htm

Cheers,
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Ross McKay        | snail: GPO Box 562, Sydney NSW 2001 Australia
Soft Technologies | email: mailto:rosko@zeta.org.au
Sydney, Australia |   URL: http://www.zeta.org.au/~rosko
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The opinions expressed are my own, not those of Soft Technologies.
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