[Cubeoid]

I have recently begun learning Java and think i'm going along ok I have also gotten a mac recently. Downloading the 1.1.8 SDK for OS9 proved to be nothing but a waste of time and energy. I kept running into conflict after conflict simply because 1.1.8 does not ship with the FCs i need to build my programs.

So now i read OS10 is shipping with the 1.3 SDK already installed..sounds great! But can somone give me an insight how this process works under OS10.

Some screenshots of the compile-run process would be great.

If OSX this is a nice hassle-free developing environment for Java, that would be my first case for taking a dive into it!

[Angus_D]

You can either use the standard javac and so on commandline tools, or build your application using Project Builder. I'm sure there are screenshots around, I would post some but I don't know Java (although i dabbled with it when it was a new technology, but I've since forgotten it

[eyadams]

I'm not sure what "FCs" means, but it sounds like your problem with OS 9 was that you were trying to use classes that are only available in 1.2 and later versions of Java, like java.util.Map (for example). If you stay away from the newest APIs, Java under OS 9 is pretty good - especially if you're using Codewarrior.

That said, Java under OS X can be just like running it on any other version of Unix - pop open a terminal window and "javac HelloWorld.java". You can even use emacs (shudder) which comes with a java mode that'll format your text for you. Or you can use Project Builder, which comes with OS X. Project Builder is aimed at building GUI apps, and has some quirks when dealing with Java applications, but for the most part it works great.

[Cubeoid]

Thanks eyadams. You got my point anyway, FCs (Foundation Classes). Thats what was hapening. I was not able to run because the classes which my objects were trying to make use of weren't around 1.1.8, and my Java course has an emphesis on 1.3.

As far as OS X goes, it sounds good, I am comforable in the Unix CLI so I should be happy with OS X, and the project builder sounds pretty cool also. It is nice to see an operating systems which caters for the developer with such a strong base such as Unix out of the box. However, I am also a web/graphics guy, and use office apps and different bits here and there, none of which have shipped on X yet. So I am holding my horse for now.

Steve was a little jumpy when he said expect the bulk of the applications in July, I dont think thats gonna happen. But when the major apps drop, I am tenning it, untill then, Mr Virtual PC will tend to my Java needs.

[AirSluf]

[brooklyn_mac_guy]

I really like developing java on Mac OS X. Mainly because I can do servlets, JSP and MySql. I mostly use Project Builder. There's definitely still some quirks though. the slower (than OS 9) aqua interface also affects java. I have screenshots of an identical application from OS 9 and OS X. I like the OS X look better but the buttons flicker when redrawing after just moving the mouse around (350 Mhz iMac w/320 MB ram). You can see them at

java pix

I like Project Builder but I haven't used the debugger. Integration with CVS is really nice too but I haven't used it since the Public Beta because I'm lazy and it's a little bit of a pain to set up. I haven't tried Forte (except on my PC. It wasn't bad) but I might check out JBuilder when it becomes available.

[Angus_D]

If you can possibly afford to, use Cocoa/Java for the UI on OS X - it's much less quirkier. I was recently working on a swing program, packaging it up for OS X. The fake OS X UI was causing so many problems that in the end we had to revert to the standard swing one (by setting extra properties)

[mcdoken]

Although java on MacOS9 certainly is not great, its not SO bad. In fact, I was having some pretty decent luck writing servlets and small applications on MacOS9 using the predecessor to Forte called NetBeans. The 2.1 version doesn't appear to be available anywhere anymore, but I still have it and use it occasionally.

With regards to "FCs", I assume you mean JFC or Swing. The Swing classes can be downloaded from Sun and run on MacOS9 just as on other platforms. Like many of the Sun APIs, all you need to do is import the JARs in the IDE you are using. Also, the MRJ SDK can be downloaded from Apple at http://developer.apple.com/java/

Still, you are definately better off using OSX if its practical for you. ProjectBuilder is decent, and Forte runs fine also.

With regards to your comment on using the office apps and things, the Classic environment runs fine on OSX. Certainly better than VirtualPC. I recommend you switch.

[ 06-05-2001: Message edited by: mcdoken ]

[Kristoff]

Both NetBeans 3.2 and Forte for Java 3.0 work perfectly under OS X.