MorphOS Java VM in the Works

[smithy]

>Keeping Java proprietary was one of Sun's biggest
>mistakes.

I wouldn't call it proprietary, The Java Community Process (JCP) allows Java developers to get involved and shape the future of the Java platform - this includes contributing code.  I think even core language features, such as Generics in the forthcoming Java 1.5 were contributed to by members of the Java community, and not just Sun themselves.  This kind of coordinated effort with a single focus is probably what has made Java so successful.

The source code for the JVM is also available for educational uses and those interesting in porting.

[smithy]

>Server side scripting is a niche where Java finds
>its uses. But again it has some good competition in
>this market aswell.

Java's biggest market is undoubtedly on the server - not scripting, but in application servers and Enterprise Beans.

>Java for the desktop never really took off. It has
>always been something you can live quite happily
>without.

There are hundreds of thousands of Java desktop applications!  A lof of it is internet software which would be extremely useful to MOS, but there is also a lot of development, research and educational software too - perfect for us computer enthusiasts, which is what MOS is aimed at after all!  There is a great deal of good quality Java software out there - it will boost MOS's runnable software numbers enormously.

A Java port also makes MOS usable for computing science students - I used to use my old Amiga for university C++ programming and typing up essays - but all that changed in later years of my degree when Java came along.

>This is not to undermine the efforts of developers
>porting JVM to Amiga platforms. Their work should
>be appreciated. At this point in time Amigans need
>every possible feature to play catch up, however
>limited in use.

Exactly!  However, I believe the Java port is very important, and may well play a big part in convincing people that MOS is not a toy platform.