[nfbcs] Why Java? was: Software Developer position open

Tue Oct 2 14:17:10 UTC 2012

Wow, that is really interesting. I am a systems programmer but its still 
interesting to me that today java might be the preferred language for a user 
interface for a program for the blind.  Obviously, things have really 
changed since the last time I heard anything about this.

Good question, Aaron.

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "John J. Boyer" <john.boyer at abilitiessoft.com>
To: "NFB in Computer Science Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 6:57 PM
Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Why Java? was: Software Developer position open

> Hi Aaron,
>
> Java was chosen primarily because of SWT (Standard Window Toolkit). This
> is a library for graphical intgerfaces that uses the native facilities
> of the operating system and so is well adapted to cross-platform
> applications like BrailleBlaster, which is intended to run on Linux, Mac
> and Windows. As a bonus, because it uses the native operating system
> features, it is easily accessible and does not require the Java Access
> Bridge.
>
> C is used for the underlying transcription engine, liblouis and
> liblouisutdml. Java is more suited to graphical interfaces.
>
> John
>
> On Mon, Oct 01, 2012 at 06:45:11PM -0500, Aaron Cannon wrote:
>> Hi John.
>>
>> I actually am curious why Java was chosen as the language for the
>> Braille Blaster project.  Is there any particular reason it was chosen
>> over some other cross-platform language such as Python or even C?  Was
>> it as simple as being the language you knew, or was there more to it
>> than that?
>>
>> Not criticizing the choice.  Just curious.  I think the language it's
>> written in is much less important than the fact that it simply exists,
>> and I'm thrilled to hear that the APH is sponsoring its development.
>>
>> Aaron
>>
>>
>> On 10/1/12, John J. Boyer <john.boyer at abilitiessoft.com> wrote:
>> > That is one person's opinion. There are lots of organizations using
>> > Java, including the Daisy Consortiumj, Bookshare and Apache.
>> >
>> > If you wish to pursue this topic further, please change the subjectg
>> > line.
>> >
>> > John
>> >
>> > On Mon, Oct 01, 2012 at 02:17:08PM -0700, Ronald Smith wrote:
>> >> Steve,
>> >>
>> >> I think Leo LaPort stated that Java is dead!
>> >>
>> >> ----- Original Message -----
>> >> From: "Steve Jacobson" <steve.jacobson at visi.com>
>> >> To: "NFB in Computer Science Mailing List" <nfbcs at nfbnet.org>
>> >> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2012 1:50 PM
>> >> Subject: Re: [nfbcs] Software Developer position open
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> >John,
>> >> >
>> >> >I am going to forward this to our "jobs" list as well.
>> >> >
>> >> >Best regards,
>> >> >
>> >> >Steve Jacobson
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >On Mon, 1 Oct 2012 15:38:02 -0500, John J. Boyer wrote:
>> >> >
>> >> >>O
>> >> >>A software developer with extensive Java experience is needed to 
>> >> >>work
>> >> >>on
>> >> >>the BrailleBlaster project. This work will be done under contract 
>> >> >>with
>> >> >>the American Printing House for the Blind (APH), which is 
>> >> >>collaborating
>> >> >>on the project. Knowledge of Braille is desirable but not required,
>> >> >>since it can be learned. BrailleBlaster is an open source project 
>> >> >>which
>> >> >>aims to dramatically increase the availability of Braille and 
>> >> >>tactile
>> >> >>graphics. It covers both literary and technical material. It is 
>> >> >>freely
>> >> >>downloadable. Please send questions and resumes to
>> >> >>john.boyer at abilitiessoft.com
>> >> >
>> >> >>--
>> >> >>John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer
>> >> >>Abilitiessoft, Inc.
>> >> >>http://www.abilitiessoft.com
>> >> >>Madison, Wisconsin USA
>> >> >>Developing software for people with disabilities
>> >> >
>> >> >
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>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
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>> > --
>> > John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer
>> > Abilitiessoft, Inc.
>> > http://www.abilitiessoft.com
>> > Madison, Wisconsin USA
>> > Developing software for people with disabilities
>> >
>> >
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>
> -- 
> John J. Boyer; President, Chief Software Developer
> Abilitiessoft, Inc.
> http://www.abilitiessoft.com
> Madison, Wisconsin USA
> Developing software for people with disabilities
>
>
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