Hi,
I had this idea, and would like to get comments - if it's cool, or dumb
- whatever:
I want to have my Java programs better integrated or "aware" of my KDE
desktop. And vice-versa. I don't need the equivalent of the Python-KDE
binding: This package does two things: it gives access to desktop-system
features, as well as graphics widgets.
I just want access to system features. I'm thinking of the services
that the "KApplication" class gives KDE apps: Notification when the
system is getting shut down, for instance. Or, the generation of temp
file names.
I first thought about making a binding like the Python-KDE package but
then decided against it. I also don't want to access native code from
Java. Too messy and system dependent. My idea is to use CORBA: Have a
server that creates KApplication server objects. The Java programs then
connect to a KApplication server instance and also register themselves
for callbacks.
There'd probably be a small applet-like framework that Java app writers
would use that would hook their program into this setup.
The system could also use something like Echnida to launch Java apps
quickly.
Now, once this basic idea is implemented, the CORBA/IDL solution offers
extreme flexibility. For example, there's no reason that a GNOME server
couldn't be written that creates the GNOME equiv of KApplication
(whatever that may be...). It would serve the same IDL, and all the
Java apps would work with it too. The same could even be done for MS
Windows.
AND, this can go the other way: Programming environments like Squeak
Smalltalk can be adapter to fit into the client-side of the framework.
So, what this system would really become is a "VM-driven language to
desktop integrator".
Comments?
- Robb
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