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Re: Making shared objects with GCJ


> Item 2 is direct competition with the GUI folks' efforts to write
> a free AWT and Swing. As mentioned here previously, SWT
> uses the CPL and therefore isn't compatible with GPL. However,
> the SWT + SwingWT solution <i>would</i> work on a free OS,
> which is what you asked about.

Err... SwingWT is not direct competition with the GUI folks.

The goal of SwingWT is not to minimise any of the work done by the
Classpath folks. SwingWT is about being able to recompile Swing apps
to take advantage of platform native widgets and free virtual
machines (ie. Have your application not looking rubbish and locked into
Sun's VM).

When the classpath folks have a correctly architected, working
implementation of Swing, SwingWT still fulfils a role. The whole point
of Swing is that you have a consistent look and feel across all
platforms by only using Window/Canvas peers and doing the rendering in
Java. SwingWT is about driving native widgets so your Swing app looks
correct for the platform it is on. Two very different design goals.

There was suggestion of incorporating SwingWT into one of the free VMs
so you could switch between Classpath/Swing and SwingWT with a runtime
argument to the VM. I think that would be very interesting and
definitely offer something over Sun's VM (real Swing for compatibility,
native widgets if desired).

On the point about the CPL being incompatible with the GPL, it's due to
the patent clause. If you visit the FSF site, they actually claim that
the patent clause is not a bad thing, and a similar clause is planned
for the next version of the GPL. I'm not a lawyer though, but as I
understand it, SWT is just as free as any GPLed app in terms of the
freedoms granted through the licence. SwingWT is LGPL.

Sorry - just wanted to clear that up. SwingWT should not be treading on
the Classpath guys toes, it's just an alternative implementation of Swing 
and AWT for those who want native widgets. It's also a good stopgap
until the "real" Swing is finished.

Cheers,

Rob


-- 
=====================================================
Robin Rawson-Tetley

Animal Shelter Manager (http://sheltermanager.sf.net)
SwingWT                (http://swingwt.sf.net)

I prefer encrypted email.
Download my public key at: http://rawsontetley.ath.cx/sfpk.asc

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