-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Morpheus: java versions Date: Fri, 28 Jun 2013 12:32:48 -0400 From: Dennis E. Slice <dsl...@morphometrics.org> To: morphmet@morphometrics.org Some background and current status of Morpheus et al., Java Edition. The software was developed and tested on Mac OS X with the Apple-default Java version 1.6. The resulting distribution was tested on various Windows and Linux platforms available to me (mostly installations running on virtual machines). In those cases, the general structure worked, but Morpheus would not run because the default environments (in the VMs) did not have sufficient openGL capabilities. On an old MacBookPro, I installed Windows 7 and Linux. I upgraded the Windows 7 drivers and it worked fine. I was not successful upgrading the Ubuntu drivers for the MacBookPro given the limited time I spent trying. My students have reported it to run on various proper Windows and Linux systems, though some problems are reported on older, less contemporary systems probably due to openGL drivers. This is relevant because java 1.6 was provided and maintained by Apple, but Apple has suspended this effort as of 1.6 and has turned future development over to the general java development community. Apple's 1.6, in fact, is the source of the outdated (java3D) files require the execution of the mac_os_x_prepare script - they must be hidden from view. However, 1.6 is still, for now, the default installation when java programs are detected. A few days ago, I had to install Java 1.7 to run some lab code that requires that version. This broke two of my favorite programs, jEdit and Morpheus. Installing 1.6 alongside 1.7 allowed jEdit to run, but Morpheus still did not. There are two issues at play - the shift from Apple 1.6 to community-provided 1.7 and the difference between Oracle and the openJDK products. We are currently looking into this, and I have some leads that should address one or more of these issues. Also, I have information that some of these problems will be addressed in a new release of java due out this summer. I would generally prefer to avoid commenting on future developments, but I will a bit since it provides context for the current situation. The current 3D graphics in Morpheus use java3d running on top of jogl 2.0. We are currently developing a new graphics engine that will be built directly on top of jogl 2.0 and using OpenGL shader language. This is a significant and fundamental change, but better in the long term. This is also the reason I am reluctant to develop new graphics windows and options until we see what adjustments are necessary to the existing graphics objects to work with our new graphics engine. I will keep you posted. -ds
