Category Archives: Communications, Connection, Internet, Web, Media

A good point

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Rafe wonders why Sun didn’t use what was already available when building java.net: “I’m always curious about is why big companies tend to either stomp on or ignore existing communities and conventions when they try something new.” Me too.

I think Sun missed an opportunity, especially when services like Roller and java.blogs exist, work great, and have enthusiastic users.

I gotta add however, I am very happy to see it come online. It already looks to become a regular visit.

Update: Simon Phipps, Sun Java evangelist, answers some of Rafe’s questions!

Watching this evolve is going to be fun. Sun’s weblogs may look generic, but a cross-weblog conversation just may take place here! That’s great!

Blabbermouth gets it right

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From a fan perspective, of course I’m going to dig Blabbermouth.net. But the web-tech guy in me wants you to take notice – the site gets a topic based weblog right. Straight forward design. Sticks to to subject. Content right were you can see it. Notice how Road Runner records owns the site, but is not responsible for content. And notice how I just gave Road Runner free advertisement. It’s great work. Check it out.

I would be amiss if I didn’t mention BlogCritics contributor, metal (true metal dude) fan and critic, fellow Philly blogger Chirs Puzak. I wouldn’t have known about Blabbermouth if it wasn’t for him pointing to it. All this and a fellow “The Prisoner” fan too!

Compile Java excutables? How? It’s so confusing!

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Well someone made it easy!

1. Download and install this bundled build of GCC/GCJ 3.3 for Windows (MingW) and SWT. Follow the instructions to put into your path it’s bin directory.

2. Create your simple HelloWorld app as HelloWorld.java:

class HelloWorld {

public static void main(String args[]) {

System.out.println("Hello World");

return;

}

3. Navigate to that directory from a command prompt and type:
>gcj –main=HelloWorld -o HelloWorld HelloWorld.java

4. Now execute your HelloWorld.exe:
>HelloWorld

It runs! The executable is a little larger then I had hoped (3.5MB), but that beats telling users they need a JVM installed! More about it in this JavaLobby thread. I write many non-GUI utilities and this maybe just the trick for some of them. This originates with the article I linked to earlier at IBMDeveloperWorks, Create native, cross-platform GUI applications, revisited.