Oracle Basic (Powerobjects), Basic-like language running on the JVM, ever ?

[Fernando Cassia]

Hi there,

1) I´ve read that the goal of this JSR and project is to bring other
languages to the JVM with the same performance as java bytecode.
Would this be like what Mono currently has?, I mean, the ability to
develop third party add-ons that interface with the JVM engine, thus
allowing for plenty of languages to run in the JVM?.

(Sorry, I´m asking as an end user, not a developer).

2) Now that Oracle owns Sun, perhpas it´d be a good idea to bring a
Basic-like language to the JVM too. I remember Oracle had its
OracleBasic as part of its PowerObjects package... or to revive the
defunct Project Semplice that aimed to run Visual Basic syntax
programs and compile those as Java bytecode.

Three years ago, Sun Microsystems had a project to bring Visual Basic
(VB) programmers to the Java platform, with an IDE that would just
compile VB source code directly as Java bytecode, letting VB
programmers create 100% Pure Java applications

More info:
http://blogs.sun.com/herbertc/entry/project_semplice_visual_basic_for

With no Java learning curve, this would have brought millions of
hobbyist programmers to the cross-platform, Java bytecode platform.

Unfortunately, the programmers in charge of Project Semplice left Sun.
With the current push for JavaFX, I think this is an excellent chance
for Sun to bring Project Semplice back to life as a Visual Basic to
Java (or JavaFX) translator.

I´ve created a Facebook Group to ask Sun about this. Those interested,
feel free to join
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=56023420682&ref=ts

3) For the record, here´s what Oracle Basic was (is?)
------
"Oracle kept the developer in mind when choosing the programming
language for Power Objects—Oracle Basic. Oracle Basic is extremely
similar to Visual Basic, with the additions of object extensions and
Structured Query Language (SQL) extensions. BASIC is the most
commonly-used programming language. Any developer familiar with any
version of BASIC will be able to quickly and easily transition to
writing Oracle Basic code in Power Objects. "

http://docs.rinet.ru/Krikun/oun36fi.htm

------

4) Why Visual Basic (or Oracle Basic, or OpenOffice Basic): because
there´s still hundreds of thousands of hobby programmers out there
with Visual Basic or Basic-language skills.

See what Sun is missing by not releasing Project Semplice

February 2009 survey shows VB6 still alive and kicking
http://www.itjoblog.co.uk/2009/02/visual-basic-6-the-runtime-tha.html

5) In all these years for which I´ve been a Java VM user and advocate,
I always thought it was a shame that plenty of people in the java camp
became "Java language zealots" overlooking the possibilities of the
Java VM as a runtime for OTHER languages. At least IBM´s Mike
Cowlishaw realized this and created NetRexx, giving Rexx language
programmers the ability to write code in the language they already
knew, and create java bytecode from it.

In short:  People should be able to just fire an IDE, start typing in
whatever language they know (VISUAL BASIC, PASCAL, PYTHON, etc) and
then "compile as java bytecode", ending in a .jar file. Bringing Sun´s
"Project Semplice" back to life would be a good start. Would MLVM make
this easier to accomplish?.

So... to make this long tirade short.... ¿Does what I say make any
sense? Is there a chance of getting an "Oracle Basic" like language
supported by the Java VM thanks to mlvm ?? Any contacts at Sun /
Oracle to pursue this?

Best,
FC
-- 
"Me gustaría vivir un tiempo razonable. Qué se yo, mil, dos mil años".
-Ernesto Sábato