Re: [JAVA3D] Why is Java3D Platform specific?

[Rajesh Gupta]

Hi Neil, Actually you should be asking the question, Why is Java Platform specific. Let me shed some light on a few things. SUN takes the responsibility of bringing out Java and related API's only on Solaris and Windows. For the rest of the platforms, SUN licences the technology to the respective vendors and they are supposed to come up with a version of the JDK/API on their platforms. Do you have versions of JDK coming from SUN for SGI, Apple, HP and IBM. No. They come from the respective vendors. BTW, Java3D is available on Linux. SUN had licensed it to blackdown and they have a beta for Linux avaialble (www.blackdown.org). SGI has also licensed Java3D from SUN and should come out with a version for Irix pretty soon. So if want a version of Java3D on OS/2 or AS/400, you should be asking IBM about the status of their port. Since performance was one of top most, I guess going native (or using OpenGL) was unavoidable. About the OpenGL. All I can say is that there is much more to porting a library like Java3D than just just changing a name in the loadLibrary call. You should try asking the guys at blackdown ( and probably SGI too) who have been sweating it out trying to port Java3D to these platforms and have only been able to come up with only a beta till now. Hope that answers your doubts. Forgive me if I have been rude. Regards, Rajesh Gupta ----- Original Message ----- From: Neil Witcomb <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, September 02, 1999 12:24 AM Subject: [JAVA3D] Why is Java3D Platform specific? > Well you all know my question, from the subject.  I don't understand why Java3D would be made to be platform specific.  It could be because of the DirectX route taken which is only supported by Windows, but there is an OpenGL version.  As long as the platform supports OpenGL it should support the Java3D. > > One reason I could think of was, we are linking to a native library but what does that matter.  If we know the platform we know the corresponding OpenGL library. > > Another reason may because the majority of computers are made up of either Windows Machines.  But if this was ever considered in the creation of Java3D they should take the Java out of the name. > > There are many different platforms out, SGI, Windows, Solaris, Apple, etc. and Java3D is supported on Solaris SPARC only, and Windows. > > Does someone have an answer to this question? > > Thanks > Neil Witcomb > > =========================================================================== > To unsubscribe, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body > of the message "signoff JAVA3D-INTEREST".  For general help, send email to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] and include in the body of the message "help". >