Java
Overview
Java is currently not shipped by default. Only open source software is, and apparently open source versions are not yet usable.[1]
While not shipped by default, people do install java. And governments may install it, along with other non-free software, in their versions of the distribution. It appears applets now work in the browser if java is installed.[2]
In preparing java for wider use, two challenges might be getting something appropriately sized for the olpc laptop (eg, efforts to make the jre less bloated, or using something like JavaSE), and integrating with the Gtk/C/Python infrastructure for collaboration, storage, etc.
But the basic bottleneck, on this as in most things OLPC, is shortage of people. The core team is focused on the core, and on each deadline. The community fills in the many opportunties that leaves. And it doesn't look like anyone is really pushing on Java yet.
But sometimes work is happening without the wiki being updated. So it might be worth writing the devel list, to create a less random guess at current state.
Perhaps what will happen is someone with some applets or a java program they care about will clean up the wiki instructions for installing java. Some country will decide to ship java, and people will create content bundles containing html and applets. Perhaps someone will ship a program compiled with gcj, and the libraries included in their own ~20MB space budget. Someone will bang on using jython for the sugar ui. And java will increasingly become an option.
Installing Java
- The Restricted Formats page contains installation directions for Sun's Java installation.
Potentially interesting Java programs
- MHP includes DVB-J, which could be used for interactive school TV channels.
- Wikiversity courses are likely to require Java
- Jmol, an open-source java applet (and application) for viewing 3D molecular structures. Children can, for example, explore the 3D structure and function of DNA as well as vitamins, drugs (such as anti-HIV drugs), or proteins (such as hemoglobin and its sickle disease variant common in Africa).
- http://alice.org/ - Alice 3D Authoring system, from the Stage3 Research Group at Carnegie Mellon University. (judging from the hardware requirements that would probably be using the OLPC to the limits)
- Powers of 10 (see: Powers of Ten (Wikipedia))
Java becoming open source
Do the following pages about Java becoming free and open source have implications for using Java on the OLPC laptop?
http://www.sun.com/software/opensource/java/
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/6144748.stm
- Initially, Java is not available on the laptop. JavaScript—technologically-wise unrelated to it—will be.
Alternatives to Java on the laptop
See "Thin client" for the implications of a server based approach.
Dynamic Scripting
Learn more about "Jython" to create dynamic scripting environments under Java.