GP32 Java Vm

[abigsmurf]

As I've said before I much prefer using Java than C (why couldn't it include Native String support? Why don't Variables get given a Null value on declaration, is there any use for variables filled with garbage?). How fast is the virtual machine? Is it capable of handling smooth 2d engines with medium sized sprites and is it stable?

 

[damaki]

Last time I've heard of the GP32 jvm it was only able to run simple programs with text and not even input. Sorry but it seems that you will have to stick with C or C++.

 

[abigsmurf]

That sucks. Looks like I'm forced to delve into the dreaded world of pointers after all...

Still, at least things like vectors can substitute for them sometimes...

 

[skeezix]

C is "to the metal".. it is all about performance. This is why it doesnt' assign NULL for you -- wasting your cycles. The string-pointers are very good, but easy to screw up until you get the hang of it.. but it all performs well. On something like a GP32, performance is needed, so java wouldn't really be a blazingly fast solution...

Just dive in.. if millions of people do it, it can't be all bad =)

jeff

 

[damaki]

Just dive in.. if millions of people do it, it can't be all bad =)

People use C because people use C, same goes with C++.
It has became a standard so we can't do anything about it. And people is realizing, nowadays that there are much better choices. For instance Gnome is going soon to another language.
Nobody forces you to use C on GP32. If you use gcc you can also use other langages : C#, C++, ada, ... So just use one which better fits to your taste.

 

[abigsmurf]

C is "to the metal".. it is all about performance. This is why it doesnt' assign NULL for you -- wasting your cycles. The string-pointers are very good, but easy to screw up until you get the hang of it.. but it all performs well. On something like a GP32, performance is needed, so java wouldn't really be a blazingly fast solution...

Just dive in.. if millions of people do it, it can't be all bad =)

jeff

not having null or 0 values is a pain when declaring a global variable that you only ever want to have iterated. Means you have to be creative in finding a way to set a value to zero that doesn't reset the value everytime a function is called.

It just seems that compared to almost every other language I've tried, C has the greatest number of things designed to make the programmers life more difficult (and would adding native String support really be that hard? ;_