Workshop/BoF: Graphics in GNU Classpath

[Sascha Brawer]

=======================================
Workshop/BoF: Graphics in GNU Classpath
=======================================

Linux-Kongress, Saarbrücken, Germany
October 14th, 2003, 14:30 - 17:30 h


----------
Background
----------

Many existing Java(TM) applications depend on the Java2D(TM) API, a very
well-designed, powerful set of high-performance graphics routines. Most
applications use this graphics library indirectly through the Swing(TM)
toolkit, which is the most widely used API to write interactive
applications in the Java(TM) programming language.

It would be very desirable for GNU Classpath to support the Java2D(TM)
API. However, the current state of graphics support in GNU Classpath is
extremely limited. Since there currently exist several projects that want
to support Java graphics, it would be good to coordinate them.

Therefore, a workshop/developer's gathering/birds-of-a-feather session
will take place during Linux-Kongress 2003. Some Classpath developers
said they plan going to this event, which is why this location was chosen.


----------------------
Purpose of the meeting
----------------------

- To get an understanding of the requirements for supporting Java2D(TM)
on top of various graphics engines.

- To find a structure of the code that can support several target
platforms. For example, the requirements are rather different for remote
X11, local X11, OpenGL, IKVM.NET, Jaos/Oberon, embedded devices with
framebuffers, or pure Java operating systems. Ideally, it will be
possible to find a clean, modular structure that allows for most code to
be shared, while still supporting back-ends for various graphics subsystems.

- To identify the tricky parts, and to discuss techniques for
implementing them.


-----------------------
Who might be interested
-----------------------

- People who know about X11, the X Rendering Extension, OpenGL(TM), or
some other graphics API

- People who are familiar with the Java2D(TM) APIs

- Implementors of virtual machines

- Contributors to GNU Classpath

Of course, anyone else is equally welcome to join!


-----
Talks
-----

- Agile2D, an implementation of Java2D on top of OpenGL
  (Jean-Daniel Fekete)

If you would like to give a presentation during the workshop, please
contact Sascha Brawer (address@hidden).  It would be especially
helpful if someone was present who knows about RedHat's implementation of
Java2D on top of Xr/Cairo. But you are invited to speak about any
relevant topic.



-------------
Related links
-------------

It would be good if the attendands could get familiar with some of the
relevant APIs. Of course, knowledge about Java2D(TM) would be especially
important.

- Programmer's Guide to the Java2D(TM) API
  ftp://ftp.java.sun.com/docs/j2se/1.4/j2d-book.pdf (PDF),
  http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/guide/2d/spec/j2d-bookTOC.html (HTML)

- The X Rendering Extension
  Design: http://keithp.com/~keithp/talks/usenix2001/
  Protocol: http://keithp.com/~keithp/render/protocol.html

- Xr/Cairo (client-side API that uses X Rendering if present)
  Description: http://cairographics.org/xr_ols2003/
  Implementation: http://www.cairographics.org/
  API: http://www.keithp.com/cgi-bin/cvsweb/cairo/src/cairo.h

- OpenGL(TM)
  Overviews: http://www.opengl.org/developers/documentation/overviews.html
  Specification:
  http://www.opengl.org/developers/documentation/version1_4/glspec14.pdf
  Agile2D (implements Java2D on top of OpenGL):
  http://www.lri.fr/~fekete/agile2d/

- GNU Classpath
  http://www.gnu.org/software/classpath/




Please feel free to forward this message to anyone who might be interested.

-- Sascha

Sascha Brawer, address@hidden, http://www.dandelis.ch/people/brawer/