SableVM SDK 1.13 released!

The most important change in this version is the update of the class library to the GNU Classpath 0.19 release. The difference in usability is huge, because SableVM SDK 1.12 used GNU Classpath 0.16 and since its release there's been plenty of improvements to GNU Classpath (Swing being probably still the most visible to a user). Way to go guys!

SableVM SDK is meant as a relatively complete replacement of a Java Software Development Kit. An important goal is also the ease of installation. To achieve it all the separate software pieces have been integrated into one source archive that (once its build-time dependencies are fulfilled) can be simply installed all at once.

Just a short reminder about what's inside:

• SableVM and SableVM Classpath (based on GNU Classpath 0.19)
• CP-Tools (javap, javah, serialver, ...)
• Fastjar
• GJDOC (javadoc drop-in replacement)
• Jikes
• LibFFI and LibPOPT (now part of SableVM)

Have fun with it! And don't forget to let us know of your experiences!

SableVM SDK for Java is back with 1.13-pre1 !

Guess what---a new shiny prerelease of SableVM SDK suite for Java is out for you to have some serious fun with it! The main point of this release is getting new GNU Classpath 0.19 integrated. Tests show that with the updated class library Swing apps look waaaay better. Kudos to the GNU Classpath hackers and contributors!

Installation of SableVM SDK is as simple as it can be. As usual you need recent GTK and a few other libraries and tools available as packages for most distributions. The non-commonly used elements (like libffi, libpopt) are included in SableVM SDK to cut the hassle of installing it to minimum.

Basically all you need to do is to fetch the SableVM SDK 1.13-pre1 tar archive, unpack it, run ./configure && make and su; make install. With the default settings in /usr/local/lib/sablevm you'll find a fairly complete JAVA_HOME like environment. Enjoy!

And please let us know of your successes and problems by sending as an email to sablevm-user@sablevm.org. This will ensure future SableVM SDK releases work better for you!

In other news SableVM Project team has been silently working since many months on new JVM features that will start showing up in upcoming releases after 1.13. Stay tuned!

SableVM SDK for Java 1.12-pre3 release needs testing!

This prerelease mainly brings us up to date with the just-released GNU Classpath 0.16. It also includes a few new bugfixes done after the -pre2 release.

But the real point of this release is to find and fix any remaining bugs so that the release could happen really soon. Ideally the final SableVM SDK for Java 0.12 will be identical to pre3, so if you're not a risky type you still can pretty safely try out this prelease.

Just a short reminder about what's inside

• SableVM and SableVM Classpath (up to date with GNU Classpath 0.16 release plus bugfixes)
• CP-Tools (javap, javah, serialver, ...)
• Fastjar
• GJDOC (javadoc drop-in replacement)
• Jikes
• LibFFI and LibPOPT (now part of SableVM)

Please give it a try, run Ant, Eclipse, Jetty, Tomcat, or your favourite app and just send a short mail to sablevm-user@sablevm.org about how it went. Thanks in advance!

SNAP Platform with... SableVM SDK on board! - a vision of Harmony?

From the download section the SNAP Platform web site:

SNAP Platform is composed of SableVM SDK 0.9 "open source JDK replacement", Eclipse 3.0.1, Eclipse Visual Editor 1.0.2, Tomcat 5.5.9 integrated with SableVM and Jikes open source Java VM and compiler, and an Eclipse 3.0 workspace with example GUI and console applications written by the SNAP Development Center team of student software engineers.

From the main page of the SNAP Platform:

What is the SNAP Platform?

SNAP Platform is a comprehensive open source software development toolkit based on the popular Java language and API and the best open source Java-based tools. The SNAP Platform packages into an easy to install solution, the latest stable releases of an open source Java compiler, a Java virtual machine, a J2SE API, and various other open source Java-based development tools. The SNAP Platform offers:

• a combined installer that manages the installation of all software packages;
• an auto-launch installation, just place the CD into your computer's CD Drive, and the installer will do the rest;
• full integration of the open source Java compiler, virtual machine, and API from within Eclipse, including support for in-line debugging;
• desktop integration of Eclipse running on an open source JVM;
• command line functionality that fully mimics the Java Development Kit;
• the source code and binaries for eight (8) sample application written using the SNAP Platform.

I also found this article about SNAP and Harmony:

This release offers a vision of what Project Harmony could become. SNAP Platform is a comprehensive open source development toolkit based on the popular Java language, Java API and the best open source Java-based tools. The SNAP Platform packages into an easy to install solution, the latest stable releases of an open source Java compiler, a Java virtual machine, a J2SE API, and various other open source Java-based development tools. ....

Bootable SableVM SDK + Eclipse!?

Yes, you read it right. You can download a bootable image of KNOPPIX with SNAP -=> SNAPPIX!!! And these guys also offer support via... web forums!

This just rocks!!!