Value Types for Java

[Ben Hutchison]

Miles Sabin wrote:
> On Wed, Jun 18, 2008 at 9:28 AM, Ben Hutchison <benh at ibsglobalweb.com> wrote:
>   
>> The example case I have in mind is an interaction between a Java
>> process and a 3D graphics driver. Eg a Java process would be
>> writing/updating triangle data in the buffer, and the graphics driver
>> rendering it. (I admit it might be difficult to get this to work even
>> with value type support, given that Java's philosophy says precise
>> memory level representation is undefined by spec)
>>     
>
> Right. This strikes me as almost completely orthogonal to the value
> type issue. What you really want is safe and efficient access to raw
> memory and devices. I think it would make a lot of sense to think
> about that independently.
>   
It doesn't seem orthogonal to me. I'm unsure precisely what you would 
consider "safe and efficient", but the existing ByteBuffer provides a 
non-relocatable memory block that you can access efficiently, if you are 
happy to treat it as int[] or byte[].

I hope that value types might enable a memory block to be viewed in a 
more object-oriented fashion, as an array of value-type /objects/; eg 
(going back to my earlier example) as Triangle[].Complete with named 
fields, nested structure, and methods.

Note also, I see value types as being predominantly useful intra-JVM. 
They are not simply a method for IO with external processes, yet that is 
an area where they might add convenience.

(Apologies for delayed reply - have been away from work for several days)

Regards
Ben

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*Ben Hutchison
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