New Java Developer Preview from Apple, new API for OpenJDK

[Mike Swingler]

On Nov 7, 2011, at 3:37 PM, Frank-Robert Kline wrote:

> Hi Mike,
> 
> Given the lack of Java support built into Lion, and for the benefit of consistency across installations, we had been planning to simply embed a JRE into our application for distribution to end users. This works well enough on Windows and Linux for Java 7, but from your comments it appears as though the Apple-distributed Java 6 runtime installs API hooks that OpenJDK 7 Mac Port relies on. 
> 
> As we can't be sure that end users have Java installed on Lion:
> 1. What's the recommended distribution strategy for Java 7 applications on mac? Or, what's the planned recommended distribution strategy?

Embed Java 7 into your own app's bundle.

> 2. Is there a plan to include these API dependencies in the Mac Port, so that Java applications can continue to embed the JRE for simplicity/consistency? 

We plan to deliver a future OS software update contains the new API which is currently only available from the Java developer preview. By the definition of what this API is (a cover for internal non-published, externally unsupportable SPI), it cannot be open-sourced, and it cannot be contributed to the Mac Port. Apple takes responsibility for updating the internal implementation of this API to compensate for changes in the lower level SPI.

> 3. If we continue to embed the JRE, and the potential for an unsatisfied dependency exists - how can we detect it and alert users to install what's needed?

All the dependancies are now soft-linked runtime dependencies. OpenJDK is largely functional without these APIs present, but obviously if you hit something in your testing, your users will either require "Java for Mac OS X 10.7 Update 1", or the forthcoming OS update.

Since Java 7 for Mac is not near GA from Oracle at this point, we still have some time to resolve this issue and ensure that Apple's OS software update is available before then.

Regards,
Mike Swingler
Java Engineering
Apple Inc.

> Thanks!
> Frank
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Thu, Sep 8, 2011 at 4:46 PM, Mike Swingler <swingler at apple.com> wrote:
> Hello OpenJDK hackers,
> 
> Today we have posted a new developer preview of "Java for Mac OS X 10.7 Update 1" and "Java for Mac OS X 10.6 Update 6". We don't normally announce these previews to the OpenJDK community, but this particular  set of builds have new API introduced to the JavaRuntimeSupport.framework for the benefit of macosx-port specifically.
> 
> Once you install this preview, you will notice that apps running with the current macosx-port binaries will now have the correct name in the Dock and in the menu bar. Also, input methods will be programmatically selectable, and other app startup properties like "apple.awt.UIElement" will now work, and various drag-and-drop bugs should be resolved.
> 
> You can download the preview here:
> <https://connect.apple.com/cgi-bin/WebObjects/MemberSite.woa/wa/getSoftware?bundleID=20920>
> 
> Please let us know if you have any issues with the preview at:
> <http://bugreporter.apple.com>
> 
> While we will not require installing this preview for building the macosx-port, we will ask that you install it if you are running the binaries and filing bugs at <http://java.net/jira/browse/MACOSX_PORT>. The new API changes in this preview will be incorporated into future Apple software updates shipped to all Mac OS X customers, and we use these previews to refine the API, find bugs, and ensure we deliver a solid product for all users of both Apple's Java SE 6 and OpenJDK.
> 
> Thanks for all your help,
> Mike Swingler
> Java Engineering
> Apple Inc.
>