Difference between revisions of "Java"

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Java is a reflective, object-oriented programming language initially developed by James Gosling and colleagues at Sun Microsystems in 1991, as part of the Green Project. It was initially called Oak, and was intended to replace [[Cpp|C++]], although its feature set resembles more that of [[Objective-C]].  
== Background ==
Java is a reflective, object-oriented programming language initially developed by James Gosling and colleagues at Sun Microsystems in 1991, as part of the Green Project. It was initially called Oak, and was intended to replace [[Cpp|C++]], although its feature set resembles more that of [[Objective-C]]. Sun Microsystems is currently owned by the Oracle Corporation, which maintains and regularly updates the Java platform.


Java should not be confused with [[JavaScript]], a script language with which it shares only the name and a similar [[C]]-like syntax. Sun Microsystems currently maintains and updates Java regularly.
Java should not be confused with [[Javascript]], a scripting language with which it shares only the name and a similar [[C]]-like syntax. The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) does contain a JavaScript interpreter, however, based on Mozilla Rhino.


Specifications of the Java language, the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) and the Java API are community-maintained through the Sun-managed Java Community Process.  
Specifications of the Java language, the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) and the Java API are community-maintained through the Sun-managed Java Community Process.  
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After first being made public in 1994, it achieved prominence following the announcement at 1995's SunWorld that Netscape would be including support for it in their next version of the Navigator browser.
After first being made public in 1994, it achieved prominence following the announcement at 1995's SunWorld that Netscape would be including support for it in their next version of the Navigator browser.


== Language characteristics ==
== Language Characteristics ==
*Object orientation
*Object orientation
*Platform independence
*Platform independence
*Automatic garbage collection
*Automatic garbage collection


== Java roguelikes ==
See [[The Choice of Java]], which contains a more detailed evaluation of the language.
Java has excellent features for roguelike development, due to object orientation and platform independence; however, it still has some disadvantages:
*Lower perfomance
*No native console support. Developers of [[ASCII]] roguelikes must decide whether to
**Use one of existing libraries([[JCurses]], [[Charva]], etc.), or
**Develop a new library  (e.g. wrapping the [[Curses]] C library and native methods), or
**Emulate console output in plataform independant AWT (or Swing) components.


Still, some Java roguelikes exists, these are:
== Roguelike Development ==
*[[CastlevaniaRL]]
*[[Tyrant]]
*[[Dweller]] (using Java Micro Edition, J2ME)


And there are currently some projects that are being built around Java too
'''Pros'''
*[[Guardian Angel]]
Java has excellent features for roguelike development:
*[[JADE]]
* Object Oriented
* Platform Independent
* Garbage Collected (i.e. no need to manage memory by hand)
* Ability to run on a web page as an applet.
* Generally easier to learn and use than other high-level languages like C and C++.
* Serialization to files makes it easier to implement and maintain game save and load.
* For developers of tiled roguelikes, the AWT and Swing libraries provide an excellent alternative to the 3rd party (or native platform) graphics libraries used in C and C++ since the developer can ensure that these libraries will be present in every Java implementation.
 
'''Cons'''
However, it still has some disadvantages:
* No native console support. Developers of [[ASCII]] roguelikes must decide whether to
** Use the JNI for traditional curses implmentation ([[Java Curses Implementation]])
*** Existing libraries([https://sourceforge.net/projects/javacurses/ JCurses], [http://www.pitman.co.za/projects/charva/index.html Charva] or [[libjcsi]])
*** Develop a new library  (e.g. wrapping the [[Curses]] C library and native methods)
** Emulate console output in platform independent AWT or Swing components (see [[Blacken]], [[SquidLib]], and [[Zircon]]).
* Longer initial program startup time. Java has no issues with speed once running [http://www.idiom.com/~zilla/Computer/javaCbenchmark.html], especially for RL games.
* Dependency on a Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
** Ahead Of Time (AOT) compiling to a specific OS is possible, e.g. using the [http://gcc.gnu.org/java/ GNU Compiler for Java] (GCJ). A Windows implementation is available with MinGW [http://www.thisiscool.com/gcc_mingw.htm].
 
== Java Roguelikes ==
 
The features of Java have led many roguelikes to adopt this language:
 
<!-- EDITORS: If you know of the status of any of these, feel free to add them -->
{|class="wikitable sortable"
!Status||Name
|-
|{{7DRL}} || [[Attack The Geth]]
|-
| {{alpha}} ||[[Beggar]]
|-
| {{7DRL}} ||[[CastlevaniaRL]]
|-
| {{stable}} ||[[Caverns of Underkeep]]
|-
| ||[[Crossfire]]
|-
| ||[[CryptRL]]
|-
| ||[[Dimension Dungeon]]
|-
| ||[[Dweller]] (using Java Micro Edition, J2ME)
|-
| ||[[Earl Spork]] (using [[Libjcsi]])
|-
| ||[[EmoSquid]]
|-
| ||[[Excitable Digger]] (using [[Libjcsi]])
|-
| ||[[Expedition]]
|-
| ||[[Fortress of the Goblin King]]
|-
| ||[[Fruits of the Forest]]
|-
| ||[[Guardian Angel]]
|-
| ||[[HexRogue]]
|-
| ||[[Hokuto no Rogue]]
|-
| ||[[JADE]]
|-
| {{stable}} ||[[Javelin]]
|-
| ||[[Kalyp]]
|-
| ||[[Kamyran's Eye]] (for mobile phones)
|-
| ||[[Legerdemain]]
|-
| ||[[MegamanRL]]
|-
| ||[[MetroidRL]]
|-
| ||[[MIDP RL]]
|-
| ||[[Mt. Drash: the Roguelike]]
|-
| ||[[Neon]]
|-
| ||[[Netwhack]]
|-
| {{stable}} ||[[Pixel Dungeon]] (for Android)
|-
| ||[[Plutonium roguelike]]
|-
| ||[[Quarker]]
|-
| {{stable}} ||[[QuickHack]]
|-
| ||[[Roguelike Runner]]
|-
| ||[[Sigmore Mines]]
|-
| ||[[Sigmore Mines 2]]
|-
| ||[[Tower]]
|-
| ||[[Tower of Druaga RL]]
|-
| ||[[Tyrant]]
|-
| ||[[Valley of Ge-Hinnom]]
|-
| ||[[Wayfarer]] (Written in [http://www.processing.org Processing])
|-
| ||[[ZeldaRL]]
|-
| {{defunct}} <!--404--> ||[http://will.thimbleby.net/roguelike/ a small freeware roguelike applet created by Will Thimbleby]
 
|}


== Related links ==
== Related links ==
[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_programming_language "Java programming language" (Wikipedia article)]
* [[The Choice of Java]]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_programming_language "Java programming language" (Wikipedia article)]
* [http://gpwiki.org/index.php/Java:Development_Environments  List of Java Development Environments] on the [http://gpwiki.org/ Game Programming Wiki]


[[Category:Programming languages]]
[[Category:Programming languages]]

Latest revision as of 18:12, 12 April 2018

Background

Java is a reflective, object-oriented programming language initially developed by James Gosling and colleagues at Sun Microsystems in 1991, as part of the Green Project. It was initially called Oak, and was intended to replace C++, although its feature set resembles more that of Objective-C. Sun Microsystems is currently owned by the Oracle Corporation, which maintains and regularly updates the Java platform.

Java should not be confused with Javascript, a scripting language with which it shares only the name and a similar C-like syntax. The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) does contain a JavaScript interpreter, however, based on Mozilla Rhino.

Specifications of the Java language, the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) and the Java API are community-maintained through the Sun-managed Java Community Process.

After first being made public in 1994, it achieved prominence following the announcement at 1995's SunWorld that Netscape would be including support for it in their next version of the Navigator browser.

Language Characteristics

  • Object orientation
  • Platform independence
  • Automatic garbage collection

See The Choice of Java, which contains a more detailed evaluation of the language.

Roguelike Development

Pros Java has excellent features for roguelike development:

  • Object Oriented
  • Platform Independent
  • Garbage Collected (i.e. no need to manage memory by hand)
  • Ability to run on a web page as an applet.
  • Generally easier to learn and use than other high-level languages like C and C++.
  • Serialization to files makes it easier to implement and maintain game save and load.
  • For developers of tiled roguelikes, the AWT and Swing libraries provide an excellent alternative to the 3rd party (or native platform) graphics libraries used in C and C++ since the developer can ensure that these libraries will be present in every Java implementation.

Cons However, it still has some disadvantages:

  • No native console support. Developers of ASCII roguelikes must decide whether to
  • Longer initial program startup time. Java has no issues with speed once running [1], especially for RL games.
  • Dependency on a Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
    • Ahead Of Time (AOT) compiling to a specific OS is possible, e.g. using the GNU Compiler for Java (GCJ). A Windows implementation is available with MinGW [2].

Java Roguelikes

The features of Java have led many roguelikes to adopt this language:

Status Name
7DRL Attack The Geth
αlpha Beggar
7DRL CastlevaniaRL
stable Caverns of Underkeep
Crossfire
CryptRL
Dimension Dungeon
Dweller (using Java Micro Edition, J2ME)
Earl Spork (using Libjcsi)
EmoSquid
Excitable Digger (using Libjcsi)
Expedition
Fortress of the Goblin King
Fruits of the Forest
Guardian Angel
HexRogue
Hokuto no Rogue
JADE
stable Javelin
Kalyp
Kamyran's Eye (for mobile phones)
Legerdemain
MegamanRL
MetroidRL
MIDP RL
Mt. Drash: the Roguelike
Neon
Netwhack
stable Pixel Dungeon (for Android)
Plutonium roguelike
Quarker
stable QuickHack
Roguelike Runner
Sigmore Mines
Sigmore Mines 2
Tower
Tower of Druaga RL
Tyrant
Valley of Ge-Hinnom
Wayfarer (Written in Processing)
ZeldaRL
defunct a small freeware roguelike applet created by Will Thimbleby

Related links

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