Communicator 3000 MPE/iX Release 6.0 (Platform Software Release C.60.00) (30216-90269)

Chapter 7 103
Interoperability and Internet Solutions
Introducing Java/iX
Introducing Java/iX
by Mike Yawn
Overview
MPE/iX 6.0 is the first MPE release to provide a bundled version of
Java. Java is a platform-independent language and runtime
environment with a wealth of information available. Prospective users
of Java are encouraged to observe the caveats regarding this initial
release of Java/iX described in the detailed technical article found in
Chapter 10Java sources include on-line reference materials, books and
magazines devoted to Java, and widely available classes and
instructional materials.
The Java programming language is an object-oriented language based
on C. It first gained wide acceptance as an internet programming
language because of its built-in support for handling distribution of
code over the Internet, as well as prepackaged class libraries to handle
sockets, URLs, and graphical content. In the few years since its
introduction, it has grown beyond the internet market to become a
popular language for the development of many kinds of programs,
including traditional applications, especially when client/server or
web-based access is required.
Programmers will find that Java facilitates the rapid development of
error-free code, allowing programmers to be more productive than when
writing in most other languages. The object-oriented nature of Java and
the large number of readily available classes in the standard Java
packages allow a high degree of code reuse.
Java includes the following major components:
• Java Virtual Machine, for running java applications
• Java compiler (javac), for compiling Java programs
• Java Packages, or Class Libraries, providing Application
Programming Interfaces (APIs) that cover a large number of
functional areas, including I/O, networking, and user interface.
Detailed instructions on installing and using Java can be found in the
article, "Developer’s Kit for Java/iX" in Chapter 10, "Technical Articles."
NOTE In late breaking news, Sun has announced their intention to deliver a
‘Server only’ Java platform in 1999. Because the Java Server platform
is a better fit for the needs of MPE/iX users, we expect to use it as the
basis for future ports of Java to MPE/iX. Accordingly, we discourage the
use of the Abstract Windowing Toolkit (AWT) that is included with this