Guests: Vincent Hardy and Jerry Evans
Moderator: Edward Ort (MDR-edort)
This is a moderated forum.
MDR-edort: Welcome to Meet the Author. Today's guests are Vincent Hardy, author of the recently-published book
Java 2DTM API Graphics, and Jerry Evans, Java 2D API architect and Sun Distinguished Engineer. They'll answer your questions about the book and the technology. Vincent has arrived. Jerry should be here soon. So let's begin. Who has the first question?
Vincent Hardy: Hello Ed! Thanks for having us here.
kschneid: Vince, Any feedback on GLF being used in "production" systems?
Vincent Hardy: This is hard to tell, because people usually don't tell if they do. However, I have had multiply
Vincent Hardy: Requests and technical questions that make me believe people may.
Vincent Hardy: It seems that several people have taken the GLF and starting building and editor to dynamically build different kinds of layers for a LayerComposition.
Jerry: Hello,Ed and Vincent.
kschneid: I was just curious since some of the functionality seems directly usable by consumer-oriented digital imaging products. I guess you're more likely to hear about folks trying to use it and running into problems though...
Vincent Hardy: Right! Is this the kind of development you are interested in? Are you looking at using GLF and Java 2D in a "production" system?
Jerry: I was wondering if people on the forum are actively using GLF and/or Java 2DTM.
kschneid: Well, I'm personally interested in pusuing that a bit (GLF), but the current product I'm working on will take a while to get to that point. To follow up on Jerry's comments, I'm not actively using GLF, but I am using J2D as well as a little bit of JAI. (I need to try running this on a different system, the forum app is hosed at the moment, back in a few...)
Jerry: kschneid, what is the application you're working on?
MDR-edort: Can either of you comment on the current status and direction of the Scalable Vector graphics effort in the W3C?
Vincent Hardy: Jerry is following up this effort at Sun, so I will let him answer. From what I have seen, it is a great match for Java 2D and a great addition to graphics in general, as it will allow sophisticated graphics exchange between a broad range of graphical applications.
Jerry: The current status of SVG is that it is almost at the last call stage in W3C. After that, sometime early next year, it should go to final public review. IBM has a viewer that you can download from their Alphaworks site that is based on Java 2D.
kschneid: Um, actually, both you and Vince may be familiar with the project. I guess I can't say much beyond that it's a consumer-oriented digital imaging product being developed by Kodak. I was hoping just to sort of hang out and watch the discussion but...
Jerry: OK, I think I know what you're talking about. Do you have any things that have come up that you would like to see in the 2D API?
Jerry: JBrow, are you using Java 2D or do you have any requirements you'd like to bring up?
kschneid: From an API perspective, I think you guys are doing a wonderful job. The biggest roadblock I run into is raw performance and memory footprint. Any info on what's being targeted in those areas for Java2 v1.2 and then Java2 v1.3?
Jerry: 1.3 should be out early next year. It does have some specific image drawing and compositing performance improvements. Also, there is a general overall improvement from the Hotspot compiler. Early next year is for the Win32 version and the Solaris reference release. The Solaris performance release will be later in the year.
Vincent Hardy: A lot of performance work has been done, and in v1.3, you will see a lot of improverments around Swing components rendering, and also in image rendering.
kschneid: Ah, here's something I'm always curious about: What's the plan for integrating J2D into the various J2 MicroEdition variants?
Jerry: There are no specific plans yet for 2D functionality in MicroEdition. There have been several ongoing discussions about how to make some of the new 2D functionality available in a limited footprint fashion, and it's quite possible this will happen at some point in the future.
MDR-edort: Where can people find out more about the API? Also where can people send question/comments about the API?
MDR-edort: There hasn't been much activity in today's session (few participants, questions from only one participant), so unless we get some more activity, I'm going to end the session soon. If you have a question, please ask it now.
Vincent Hardy: The Java 2D main page is at: Java Media From there, you can also register for the Java 2D interest group which is the best place to ask questions and post comments.
kschneid: I almost feel like I should apologize on behalf of us Java coders ;-) I'm certainly surprised there's not a much larger audience...
MDR-edort: No apologies necessary. People could be off doing Holiday things!
MDR-edort: I'm ending the session now. Thanks to those who participcated. And special thanks to our guests Vincent and Jerry.
kschneid: Thanks all...
Jerry: Thanks for your interest in GLF and Java 2D!
Vincent Hardy: Goodbye! Thanks to those who joined! I hope people enjoy the API. Feel free to send us comments!
MDR-edort: Last moderator (me) signing off. The forum is now unmoderated
Forum closed at Thu Dec 16 20:03:13 1999
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