Visual J++
Encyclopedia : V : VI : VIS : Visual J++
Visual J++ (pronounced "Jay Plus Plus") is Microsoft's now discontinued implementation of an IDE for the Java programming language. Optimized for the Windows Platform, J++ programs can run on the MSJVM (Microsoft Virtual Machine for Java), which was Microsoft's attempt at a faster interpreter. Syntax, keywords and grammatical conventions are the same as in Java. The one major difference was that Visual J++ applications could only run on Microsoft's Virtual Machine.
Visual J++ has been replaced by J# which compiles Java/J++ code to the .NET intermediate language.
The J++ Language
While J++ was conformant to the Java standard in its language specification, Microsoft did not implement certain features of the official Java standard into its own Visual J++ product line. RMI (Remote Method Invocation) and JNI (Java Native Interface) are such examples.In addition, J++ implemented other extensions that were not part of the Java standard. The inclusion of callbacks and delegates for better event handling further contributed to defining J++ as a completely different language merely based on an already existing design concept.
J++ applications did not entirely conform to the pre-existing method of accessing the underlying operating system functions as any other Java application under Sun's Java SDK. In Microsoft's implementation, an underlying framework called J/Direct provided a base mechanism that allowed J++ applications to completely circumvent Java's class libraries and API mediums in accessing the underlying operating system. Due to this short-cut around the original Java framework, J++ applications are more efficient in taking advantage of Win32 API functions than Java applications.
The WFC
The WFC (Windows Foundation Classes) encapsulated the Microsoft Win32 platform API and DHTML object models into a unified class library. WFC was primarily designed for creating graphical user interfaces for Java applications on Windows.Litigation against J++
Sun Microsystems had originally licensed Java to Microsoft but finally executed litigation against Microsoft for failing to comply with the license agreements to fully implement the Java language specifications.The failure of the MSJVM to pass Sun's compliance tests was a large factor in the initial lawsuit. On January 24, 2001, this suit was settled and Microsoft agreed to pay $20 million, and both companies, Sun and Microsoft, agreed to cease Java licensing. The settlement document outlined that Microsoft also could not advance J++ beyond its mirrored implementation of Java, version 1.1.4. This effectively ended J++ and further updates. The Microsoft JVM (MSJVM) also had to be ceased to be distributed by Microsoft and is no longer available for download from them. However existing J++ owners can continue to distribute it with their applications and it is not difficult to find it on the web.
However, due to settlement of outstanding litigating, Microsoft is allowed to further update the MSJVM to fix security loopholes and any problems relating to the security theatre. However, MSJVM is specifically due to cease being supported on December 31, 2007.
Visual J++
Visual J++ is the IDE or integrated development environment for J++ and provided many tools and utilities to help J++ programmers fully leverage the Win32 API.Visual J++ is no longer available for distribution, but it was part of the Microsoft Visual Studio product line.
Visual J#
Visual J# (pronounced "Jay Sharp") is Microsoft's newer Java implementation and the product to supersedeExternal links
NOTE: The following links are subject to change or be removed and point to non-existent locations due to the deprecation of J++
- [Product Features in Visual J++ - By Edition]
- [Microsoft Visual J#]
- [Microsoft Java Web Site]
- [Sun's Agreement with Microsoft]
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.