gcc/libjava/classpath/doc/vmintegration.texinfo

\input texinfo @c -*-texinfo-*-

@c %**start of header
@setfilename vmintegration.info
@settitle GNU Classpath VM Integration Guide
@c %**end of header

@setchapternewpage off

@ifinfo
This file contains important information you will need to know if you
are going to write an interface between GNU Classpath and a Virtual
Machine.

Copyright (C) 1998-2002, 2004, 2005 Free Software Foundation, Inc.

@ifnotplaintext
@dircategory GNU Libraries
@direntry
* VM Integration: (vmintegration).   GNU Classpath VM Integration Guide
@end direntry
@end ifnotplaintext
@end ifinfo

@titlepage
@title GNU Classpath VM Integration Guide
@author John Keiser
@author C. Brian Jones
@author Mark Wielaard

@page
@vskip 0pt plus 1filll
Copyright @copyright{} 1998-2002 Free Software Foundation, Inc.
@sp 2
Permission is granted to make and distribute verbatim copies of
this document provided the copyright notice and this permission notice
are preserved on all copies.

Permission is granted to copy and distribute modified versions of this
document under the conditions for verbatim copying, provided that the
entire resulting derived work is distributed under the terms of a
permission notice identical to this one.

Permission is granted to copy and distribute translations of this manual
into another language, under the above conditions for modified versions,
except that this permission notice may be stated in a translation
approved by the Free Software Foundation.

@end titlepage

@ifinfo
@node Top, Introduction, (dir), (dir)
@top GNU Classpath Hacker's Guide

This file contains important information you will need to know if you
are going to write an interface between GNU Classpath and a Virtual
Machine.

This document is incomplete, as we are still in alpha with the interface.

@end ifinfo

@menu
* Introduction::                An introduction to the Classpath project
* Initialization::              Initializing the classes
* Classpath Hooks::             Hooks from Classpath to the VM
* VM Hooks::                    Hooks from the underlying VM to Classpath
* JNI Implementation::		Hooking the VM to jni.h
* Miscellaneous VM Requirements::  
@end menu

@node Introduction, Initialization, Top, Top
@comment node-name, next, previous, up
@chapter Introduction

The Classpath Project's ambition to be a 100% clean room implementation
of the standard Java class libraries cannot be fulfilled without some
level of integration with the Virtual Machine, the underlying machinery
that actually runs Java.

There are several VMs out there, here is a small list.

@itemize @bullet
@item @uref{http://www.hungry.com/old-hungry/products/japhar/,Japhar}
Japhar was the first VM to use GNU Classpath.  Today you can see that
sort of relationship in the source tree which denotes several Japhar
specific files as a reference implementation of those pieces.  This VM
has been primarily tested against Linux and lacks garbage collections, a
JIT, and suffers recently from slow development.

@item @uref{http://www.intel.com/research/mrl/orp/,Intel's Open Runtime Platform}
Intel surprised us not long ago with the release of this rather advanced
VM that uses GNU Classpath for a set of class libraries and works on
Linux and Windows 2000.  As of June, 2004, it does not appear that ORP
is under active development.

@item @uref{http://www.sablevm.org/,SableVM}
SableVM is a robust, extremely portable, efficient, and
specifications-compliant Java Virtual Machine that aims to be easy to
maintain and to extend. It features a state-of-the-art, efficient
interpreter engine. Its source code is very accessible and easy to
understand, and has many robustness features that have been the object
of careful design.

@item @uref{http://www.kaffe.org,Kaffe}
Kaffe is an advanced VM and together with its own class libraries
provides a Java 1.1 compatible environment.

@item @uref{http://www.mozilla.org/projects/ef,Electrical Fire}
The Electrical File VM continues to be listed as a Mozilla project
though development has been somewhat quiet.  A number of concepts from
EF were expected at one point to be rolled into Japhar, but that
development has not occurred as of yet.

@item @uref{http://latte.snu.ac.kr/,LaTTe}
This VM project so far supports only Sun UltraSparc processors using the
proprietary Solaris 2.5.1 or higher operating system.  LaTTe was derived
from Kaffe but claims a number of improvements.

@item @uref{http://gcc.gnu.org/java/,GNU Compiler for Java (GCJ)}
This is a portable, optimizing, ahead-of-time compiler for the Java
Programming Language. It can compile Java source code directly to native
machine code, Java source code to Java bytecode (class files), and Java
bytecode to native machine code. Compiled applications are linked with the
GCJ runtime, libgcj which is based on the GNU Classpath code, which provides
the core class libraries, a garbage collector, and a bytecode interpreter.
libgcj can dynamically load and interpret class files, resulting in mixed
compiled/interpreted applications.
GCJ is part of the GNU Compiler Collection (@uref{http://gcc.gnu.org/,GCC}).
On March 6 2000 the libgcj and GNU Classpath projects were officially merged
and there is active work on merging all the classes between the projects.
Licensed under GPL+exception, just as GNU Classpath is.

@item @uref{http://kissme.sourceforge.net/,Kissme}
This is a free Java Virtual Machine that is being developed on GNU/Linux
and can run console Java applications.  Kissme also provides support for
orthogonally persistent Java.
@c I don't know what ``orthogonally persistent Java'' is, and I bet
@c there are other people don't know either. -- Steve Augart, 4 June 2004

@item @uref{http://jamvm.sourceforge.net/,JamVM}
A simple, small bytecode interpreter that works out-of-the-box with
pure GNU Classpath; it is emerging as the preferred platform for
quickly testing a new build of GNU Classpath.  Licensed under the GPL.

@item @uref{http://oss.software.ibm.com/jikesrvm,Jikes RVM}
A free runtime environment for Java, written in Java.  Works
out-of-the-box with pure GNU Classpath.  Features an optimizing JIT.
Runs on the x86 and PowerPC architectures, on the AIX, Linux, and Mac
OS/X operating systems.  Licensed under the CPL (Common Public
License).  Extensively documented.  Actively developed as of June,
2004.

@end itemize

In the past integration efforts were focused mainly on Japhar with an eye
towards getting Electrical Fire to work.  Most information contained in
this document is gleaned from these efforts. Recently more work has been
done on getting gcj, orp and kissme to work out of the box with GNU Classpath
but there is much to do before that becomes a reality.


@node Initialization, Classpath Hooks, Introduction, Top
@comment node-name, next, previous, up
@chapter Initialization

The order of initialization, as far as I can tell, doesn't matter just
yet.  However, when we move to 1.2 support, it probably will matter, so
we'll have a note in here at that time.

The initialization order is currently documented in the
@file{Runtime.java} source file.

@node Classpath Hooks, VM Hooks, Initialization, Top
@comment node-name, next, previous, up
@chapter Classpath Hooks

The primary method of interaction between Classpath and the VM is via
the helper classes, which are named after the relevant core library
class, but include an additional `VM' prefix.  The library classes from
Classpath call out to these to get certain VM-specific dirty work done.
A reference copy of each VM class exists.  The majority consist of a
series of static methods, some of which are simply declared
@code{native}, and some which provide a default implementation.  VMs may
either use these as is, or create their own local variations.  When
using the default implementations, the VM is responsible for
implementing any of the code marked as @code{native} which corresponds
to functionality they wish their VM to provide.  When using their own
versions of the classes, VM implementors may choose to change the mix of
native and non-native methods from that below, so as to best suit their
implementation.

@menu
* java.lang::
* gnu.classpath::
* java.util::
* java.io::
* java.security::
* java.net::
* java.nio::
* java.nio.channels::
* gnu.java.nio::
* Classpath Callbacks::
@end menu

@node java.lang, gnu.classpath, Classpath Hooks, Classpath Hooks
@comment  node-name,  next,  previous,  up

@section @code{java.lang}

@code{java.lang} is the core Java package, being imported automatically by all
classes.  It includes basic classes as @code{Object} and @code{String}.
A VM must implement at least some parts of this package in order to
become operable.

@menu
* java.lang.VMClass::
* java.lang.VMObject::
* java.lang.VMClassLoader::
* java.lang.VMSystem::
* java.lang.VMThrowable::
* java.lang.VMCompiler::
* java.lang.VMDouble::
* java.lang.VMFloat::
* java.lang.VMProcess::
* java.lang.VMRuntime::
* java.lang.VMString::
* java.lang.VMThread::
@end menu

@node java.lang.VMClass, java.lang.VMObject ,java.lang,java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMClass}

The core class, @code{java.lang.Class}, and the corresponding VM class,
@code{java.lang.VMClass}, provide two main functions within GNU Classpath.

@enumerate
@item For basic VM operation, @code{java.lang.Class} provides the link between
the Java-based representation of a class it embodies and the VM's own
internal structure for a class.  @xref{VM Hooks}.

@item As far as the user is concerned, the main function of
@code{java.lang.Class} is as an entry point to the reflection
facilities, and so it also provides this functionality, backed by the
VM class.
@end enumerate

This VM class lists the following methods, organized by the version of the
Java specification in which they occur.  All are @code{native}, unless
otherwise specified, and pertain to reflection.  As a result, the VM only
needs to implement these methods in order to provide reflection support,
and then only to the degree required.

@itemize @bullet
@item 1.0
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{isInterface(Class)} -- This is simply a property test, and matches
the presence of an appropriate flag within the class file.
@item @code{getName(Class)} -- Returns the fully-qualified name of the class.
@item @code{getSuperclass(Class)} -- Returns a @code{Class} instance which
represents the superclass.  Again, the class file contains an element directly
relating to this.  @code{null} is returned for primitives, interfaces and
@code{Object}.
@item @code{getInterfaces(Class)} -- Same as the above, but the implemented
or extended interfaces rather than the superclass.  An empty array should
be returned, rather than @code{null}.
@item @code{getDeclaredClasses(Class,boolean)} -- Returns the internal classes
this instance declares directly.  The flag determines whether or not the
VM should filter out non-public classes.
@item @code{getDeclaredFields(Class,boolean)} -- The same for fields.
@item @code{getDeclaredMethods(Class,boolean)} -- And for methods.
@item @code{getDeclaredConstructors(Class,boolean)} -- And constructors.
@item @code{getClassLoader(Class)} -- Returns the @code{ClassLoader} instance
which is responsible for the specified class.
@item @code{forName(String)} -- The VM should create a @code{Class} instance
corresponding to the named class.  As noted in @ref{VM Hooks}, the internal
content of the instance is the responsibility of the VM.
@item @code{isArray(Class)} -- Another property test, corresponding to a
class file flag.
@item @code{initialize(Class)} -- The VM should initialize the class fully,
if it has not already done so.
@item @code{loadArrayClass(String,ClassLoader)} -- This is called if
@code{forName} returns @code{null} and the string specifies an array class.
The specified array class should be loaded with the supplied class loader.
@item @code{throwException(Throwable)} -- The VM should throw the supplied
checked exception, without declaring it.
@end itemize
@item 1.1
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{isInstance(Class,Object)} -- This is a reflection-based equivalent
of the @code{instanceof} operator.
@item @code{isAssignableFrom(Class,Class)} -- Mainly a shorthand for the above,
removing the need to create an instance to test assignability.  
@item @code{isPrimitive(Class)} -- Returns true if this class is simply
a representation of one of the primitive types: @code{boolean}, @code{byte},
@code{char}, @code{short}, @code{int}, @code{long}, @code{float},
@code{double} and @code{void}.
@item @code{getComponentType(Class)} -- Produces a @code{Class} instance which
represents the type of the members of the array the class instance represents.
Classes which don't represent an array type return @code{null}.
@item @code{getModifiers(Class,boolean)} -- Returns an integer which encodes
the class' modifiers, such as @code{public}.  Again, this relates to
information stored in the class file.
@item @code{getDeclaringClass(Class)} -- Returns the class that declared
an inner or member class, or @code{null} if the instance refers to a top-level
class.
@end itemize
@end itemize

@node java.lang.VMObject, java.lang.VMClassLoader, java.lang.VMClass, java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMObject}

@code{VMObject} is the bridge between the low level @code{Object} facilities
such as making a clone, getting the class of the object and the wait/notify
semantics.  This is accomplished using the following @code{native}
methods.

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{getClass(Object)} -- Returns the @code{Class} instance for the
object.  @code{Class} objects are produced by the VM, as described in
@ref{VM Hooks}.
@item @code{clone(Cloneable)} -- The VM should produce a low-level clone of the
specified object, creating a field-by-field shallow copy of the original.
The only difference between the two is that the new object should still be
@code{finalizable}, even if the original is not.
@item @code{notify(Object)} -- The VM should choose one of the threads waiting
for a lock on the specified object arbitrarily, and wake it.  If the current
thread does not currently hold the lock on the object, then an
@code{IllegalMonitorStateException} should be thrown.
@item @code{notifyAll(Object)} -- Same as the above, but all threads are
awakened.
@item @code{wait(Object,long,int)} -- The VM should set the current thread
into a waiting state, which persists until it receives a notify signal or the
specified time (in milliseconds and nanoseconds) is exceeded.  The nanoseconds
restriction may be ignored if such granularity is not available, and a
@code{IllegalMonitorStateException} should be thrown if the current thread
doesn't own the object.
@end itemize

@node java.lang.VMClassLoader, java.lang.VMSystem, java.lang.VMObject, java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMClassLoader}
@code{VMClassLoader} provides methods for defining and resolving core and
primitive classes, as well as handling resources, packages and assertions.
The class is a mixture of @code{native} methods and Java-based
implementations, with some of the latter being @emph{stubs}.

@itemize @bullet
@item Native Methods
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{defineClass(ClassLoader,String,byte[],int,int,ProtectionDomain)}
-- The VM should create a @code{Class} instance from the supplied byte array.
@item @code{resolveClass(Class)} -- Resolve references to other classes in the
supplied class.
@item @code{loadClass(name,boolean)} -- Load a class using the bootstrap
loader.
@item @code{getPrimitiveClass(char)} -- The VM should provide a @code{Class}
implementation for one of the primitive classes.  The supplied character
matches the JNI code for the primitive class e.g. `B' for byte and
`Z' for boolean.
@end itemize
@item Java Methods
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{getResource(String)} -- The default implementation calls
@code{getResources} and returns the first element in the returned enumeration,
or @code{null} if there are no elements.
@item @code{getResources(String)} -- By default, this compiles a list of
URLs via the boot class path.  Any matching files within a zip file are added,
and directories on the boot class path are automatically converted to file
URLs that refer to join the directory with the resource name (whether or not
it actually exists).
@item @code{getPackage(String)} -- Always returns null, which may be suitable
if the VM does not wish to return a @code{Package} implementation. Otherwise,
it may be necessary to make this a @code{native} method.
@item @code{getPackages()} -- As with the last, a default stub implementation
exists (returning an empty array) which may be replaced if support is
required. 
@item @code{defaultAssertionStatus()} -- A stub which can be implemented
by VMs providing assertion support.  At present, it always returns @code{true}.
@item @code{packageAssertionStatus()} -- Much the same status as the above.
The method should return a map converting package names to boolean status
values.  The stub implementation provides an empty map.
@item @code{classAssertionStatus()} -- Same as the last, but for classes.
@item @code{getSystemClassLoader()} -- The default calls @code{ClassLoader}
to create a new auxillary class loader with a system and extension class
loader.  The VM may wish to replace it if it wishes to supply its own custom
system class loader.
@end itemize
@end itemize
@node java.lang.VMSystem, java.lang.VMThrowable, java.lang.VMClassLoader, java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMSystem}
@code{VMSystem} handles the default I/O streams, provides access to the
system clock and environment variables and provides methods for
@code{System.arraycopy} and the @code{identityHashCode} of an
@code{Object}.  It consists of @code{native} methods, but the default
implementation also provides some helper methods to simplify stream
creation.  

@itemize @bullet
@item Native Methods
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{arraycopy(Object,int,Object,int,int)} -- The VM should copy
a specified number of array objects from one array to another, with 
appropriate checks for compatible typing, available elements and space.
The VM should be able to perform this more efficiently using native code
and direct memory manipulation than would have been achieved by using Java.
@item @code{identityHashCode(Object)} -- This is the hashcode for
@code{Object}, which relates to the actual location of the object in memory.
@item @code{setIn(InputStream)} -- Set the system input stream.
@item @code{setOut(PrintStream)} -- Set the system output stream.
@item @code{setErr(PrintStream)} -- Set the system error stream.
@item @code{currentTimeMillis()} -- Gets the system time in milliseconds.
@item @code{getenv(String)} -- Returns the value of the specified environment
variable.
@end itemize
@item Java Methods
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{makeStandardInputStream()} -- Helps provide the functionality of
@code{System.in} by wrapping the appropriate file descriptor in a buffered
file input stream.  VMs may choose to create the stream from the descriptor
differently rather than using this method.
@item @code{makeStandardOutputStream()} -- Helps provide the functionality of
@code{System.out} by wrapping the appropriate file descriptor in a buffered
file output stream.  VMs may choose to create the stream from the descriptor
differently rather than using this method.
@item @code{makeStandardErrorStream()} -- Helps provide the functionality of
@code{System.err} by wrapping the appropriate file descriptor in a buffered
file output stream.  VMs may choose to create the stream from the descriptor
differently rather than using this method.
@end itemize
@end itemize

Classpath also provides native implementations of

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{setIn(InputStream)} 
@item @code{setOut(PrintStream)} 
@item @code{setErr(PrintStream)} 
@item @code{currentTimeMillis()} 
@item @code{getenv(String)}
@end itemize

making a VM implementation optional.

@node java.lang.VMThrowable, java.lang.VMCompiler, java.lang.VMSystem, java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMThrowable}
@code{VMThrowable} is used to hold the VM state of a throwable, created either
when a @code{Throwable} is created or the @code{fillInStackTrace()} method is
called (i.e. when the actual stack trace is needed, as a lot of exceptions are
never actually used).  The actual class has two @code{native} methods,
one (@code{fillInStackTrace()}) being a method of the class used to obtain
instances, and the other an instance method, @code{getStackTrace()}.
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{fillInStackTrace(Throwable)} -- The VM should return the current
execution state of the @code{Throwable} in the form of a @code{VMThrowable}
instance.  The VM may also return @code{null} if it does not support this
functionality.
@item @code{getStackTrace()} -- This is used to create a real
@code{StackTraceElement} array for the exception, using the state data
stored during creation of the instance.
@end itemize

@node java.lang.VMCompiler, java.lang.VMDouble, java.lang.VMThrowable, java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMCompiler}

@code{VMCompiler} provides an interface for VMs which wish to provide
JIT compilation support.  The default implementation is simply a series
of stubs. The property, @code{java.compiler}, should point to a library
containing the function @code{java_lang_Compiler_start()} if such support
is to be provided.

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{compileClass(Class)} -- Invoke the compiler to compile the specific
class, returning @code{true} if successful.
@item @code{compileClasses(String)} -- The compiler should compile the classes
matching the specified string, again returning @code{true} on success.
@item @code{command(Object)} -- The object represents a command given to the
compiler, and is specific to the compiler implementation.
@item @code{enable} -- Enable the operation of the compiler.
@item @code{disable} -- Disable compiler operation.
@end itemize

@node java.lang.VMDouble, java.lang.VMFloat, java.lang.VMCompiler, java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMDouble}

@code{VMDouble} provides native support for the conversion and parsing
of doubles.

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{doubleToLongBits(double)} -- Converts the double to the IEEE 754
bit layout, collapsing NaNs to @code{0x7ff8000000000000L}.
@item @code{doubleToRawLongBits(double)} -- Same as the above, but preserves
NaNs.
@item @code{longBitsToDouble(long)} -- This is the inverse of the last method,
preserving NaNs so that the output of one can be fed into the other without
data loss.
@item @code{toString(double,boolean)} -- Converts the double to a string,
giving a shorter value if the flag @code{isFloat} is @code{true}, indicating
that the conversion was requested by @code{java.lang.Float} rather than
@code{java.lang.Double}.
@item @code{initIDs} -- Used by JNI-based solutions to initialize the cache
of the static field IDs.  The default @code{VMDouble} implementation has a
static initializer which loads the JNI library and calls this method.
@item @code{parseDouble} -- Turn the string into a usable double value.
@end itemize

Classpath provides native implementations of all these, making VM
implementation optional.

@node java.lang.VMFloat, java.lang.VMProcess, java.lang.VMDouble, java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMFloat}

@code{VMFloat} provides native support for the conversion of floats.

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{floatToIntBits(float)} -- Converts the float to the IEEE 754
bit layout, collapsing NaNs to @code{0x7fc00000}.
@item @code{floatToRawIntBits(float)} -- Same as the above, but preserves
NaNs.
@item @code{intBitsToFloat(int)} -- This is the inverse of the last method,
preserving NaNs so that the output of one can be fed into the other without
data loss.
@end itemize

Classpath provides native implementations of all these, making VM
implementation optional.

@node java.lang.VMProcess, java.lang.VMRuntime, java.lang.VMFloat, java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMProcess}

@code{VMProcess} handles the execution of external processes.  In the
default implementation, threads are spawned and reaped by @code{ProcessThread}.
A constructor creates a new @code{VMProcess}, which extends rather than
complements @code{Process}, using an array of arguments, an array of
environment variables and a working directory.  The instance maintains
system input, output and error streams linked to the external process.
Three @code{native} methods are used, and implementations are provided
for all three by Classpath, making VM implementation optional.  These use
the POSIX functions, @code{fork()}, @code{waitpid()} and @code{kill()}.

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{nativeSpawn(String[],String[],File)} -- The VM should create a
new process which uses the specified command-line arguments, environment
variables and working directory.  Unlike the other two methods, this
method is linked to an instance, and must call @code{setProcessInfo()} with
the results before returning.
@item @code{nativeReap()} -- This is called to perform a reap of any
zombie processes, and should not block, instead returning a boolean as to
whether reaping actually took place.
@item @code{nativeKill(long)} -- The VM should terminate the specified PID.
@end itemize

@node java.lang.VMRuntime, java.lang.VMString, java.lang.VMProcess, java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMRuntime}

The @code{VMRuntime} class provides a series of native methods
which divulge information about the runtime or invoke certain
operations.  This includes retrieving the amount of available memory,
and scheduling the garbage collector.  There are two exceptions: the
@code{enableShutdownHooks} method, which allows the VM to put in its own
shutdown hooks when @code{Runtime.addShutdownHook()} is first invoked,
and @code{exec(String[],String[],File)} which spawns an external process.
These are Java-based static methods instead.  The first is simply a stub by
default, while the second simply links to the functionality of
@code{VMProcess} (and should be changed if a different @code{Process}
implementation is used).

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{availableProcessors()} -- Returns the number of processors 
available to the VM.
@item @code{freeMemory()} -- Returns the amount of memory the VM has available
on the heap for allocating.
@item @code{totalMemory()} -- Returns the size of the heap.
@item @code{maxMemory()} -- Returns the maximum memory block the VM will
attempt to allocate.  May be simply @code{Long.MAX_VALUE} (8 exabytes!)
@item @code{gc()} -- Allows users to explicitly invoke the garbage collector.
This is a suggestion to the VM, rather than a command, and the garbage
collector should run anyway @emph{without} it being invoked.
@item @code{runFinalization()} -- Like the above, but related to the
finalilzation of objects rather than the garbage collector.
@item @code{runFinalizationForExit()} -- Called immediately prior to VM
shutdown in order to finalize all objects (including `live' ones)
@item @code{traceInstructions(boolean)} -- This turns on and off the optional
VM functionality of printing a trace of executed bytecode instructions.
@item @code{traceMethodCalls(boolean)} -- This turns on and off the optional
VM functionality of printing a trace of methods called.
@item @code{runFinalizersOnExit(boolean)} -- A toggleable setting for
running the finalization process at exit.
@item @code{exit(int)} -- The VM should shutdown with the specified exit code.
@item @code{nativeLoad(String,ClassLoader)} -- Attempts to load a file,
returning an integer which is non-zero for success.  Nothing happens if the
file has already been loaded.
@item @code{mapLibraryName(String)} -- The VM should map the system-independent
library name supplied to the platform-dependent equivalent (e.g. a @code{.so}
or @code{.dll} file)
@end itemize

@node java.lang.VMString, java.lang.VMThread, java.lang.VMRuntime, java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMString}
@code{VMString} is responsible for handling interned strings.  If two strings
are equal (using the @code{equals()} method), then the results of calling
the @code{intern()} method on each of them makes them equal
(using @code{==}).  Thus, the same string object is always returned by
@code{intern} if the two strings are equal.  The default implementation
is Java-based and implements @code{intern(String)} by maintaining a
@code{WeakHashMap} which links the strings to their @code{WeakReference}.
A new mapping is created for each new string being @code{intern}ed.  
A VM may implement this differently by implementing this method,
which is @code{static} and the only one in @code{VMString}.

@node java.lang.VMThread,, java.lang.VMString, java.lang
@subsection @code{java.lang.VMThread}

@code{VMThread} provides the link between Java's threads and the platform
threading support.  A @code{VMThread} is created via a private constructor
and linked to a @code{Thread} instance.  This occurs when the @code{Thread}
instance is started by the static @code{create(Thread,long)} method (the second
argument requests a certain stack size, usually zero).  The thread itself is
executed via the @code{run()} method, which handles any problems with the
running of the thread and its eventual death.

@code{VMThread} provides the following accessors and mutators for accessing
the thread state via @code{VMThread},

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{getName()}
@item @code{setName(String)}
@item @code{getPriority()}
@item @code{setPriotity(int)}
@item @code{isDaemon()}
@end itemize

all of which refer to the @code{Thread} instance. @code{setPriority(int)} also
calls the appropriate native method.  @code{stop(Throwable)} similarly wraps
a native method, merely adding in a check for the state of the thread.

The default implementation also provides Java-based implementations of
@code{join(long,int)}, @code{sleep(long,int)} and
@code{holdsLock(Object)}.  @code{join} and @code{sleep} simply wait for
the appropriate amount of time, with @code{join} additionally waiting
for the thread instance to become @code{null}.  @code{holdsLock} simply
checks if an object is locked by the current thread by trying to invoke
the @code{notify} method, and catching the failing exception if this is
not the case.

The remainder of the class is a series of @code{native} methods, some of
which are mandatory for VM implementation and others which provide optional
or deprecated functionality.

@itemize @bullet
@item Mandatory Instance Methods
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{start(long)} -- The VM should create the native thread and start
it running using the @code{run} method of the @code{VMThread} instance on
which this method is called.
@item @code{interrupt()} -- The VM should interrupt the running thread and
throw an appropriate exception.
@item @code{isInterrupted()} -- Checks the interrupted state of the thread.
@item @code{suspend()} -- The thread should be suspended until resumed.
@item @code{resume()} -- The thread should be resumed from its suspended state.
This pair of methods are deprecated, due to the possibility of a deadlock
occuring when a thread with locks is suspended.
@item @code{nativeSetPriority(int)} -- Called by @code{setPriority}
to allow the setting to flow down to the native thread.
@item @code{nativeStop(Throwable)} -- The VM should stop the thread abnormally
and throw the specified exception.  This is clearly deprecated, due to the
ambiguous state an abruptly-stopped thread may leave.
@end itemize
@item Mandatory Class Methods
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{currentThread()} -- Return a reference to the thread currently
being executed.
@item @code{yield()} -- The VM should allow some other thread to run.
The current thread maintains its locks even though it stops executing for
the time being.
@item @code{interrupted()} -- A shortcut to obtaining the interrupted state
of the current thread.
@end itemize
@item Other Methods
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{countStackFrames()} -- Returns a count of the number of stack
frames in the thread.  This depends on the deprecated method @code{suspend()}
having returned true, and is thus deprecated as a result.
@end itemize
@end itemize

@node gnu.classpath, java.util, java.lang, Classpath Hooks
@section @code{gnu.classpath}

The @code{gnu.classpath} package provides Classpath-specific functionality,
primarily relating to the features in @code{java.lang}.  At present, this
includes the context of a class (the stack) and the system properties.

@menu
* gnu.classpath.VMStackWalker::
* gnu.classpath.VMSystemProperties::
@end menu

@node gnu.classpath.VMStackWalker,gnu.classpath.VMSystemProperties,gnu.classpath,gnu.classpath
@subsection @code{gnu.classpath.VMStackWalker}

@code{VMStackWalker} provides access to the class context or stack.  The
default implementation consists of a @code{native} @code{static} method,
@code{getClassContext()}, which obtains the class context, and two helper
methods which obtain the calling class (the 3rd element in the context array)
and its class loader, respectively.

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{getClassContext()} -- The VM should return an array of
@code{Class} objects, each of which relates to the method currently being
executed at that point on the stack.  Thus, the first item (index 0) is the
class that contains this method.
@item @code{getCallingClass()} -- A Java-based helper method which returns
the @code{Class} object which contains the method that called the method
accessing @code{getCallingClass()}. 
@item @code{getCallingClassLoader()} -- Like the last, but returning the class
loader of the class.
@end itemize

@node gnu.classpath.VMSystemProperties,,gnu.classpath.VMStackWalker,gnu.classpath
@subsection @code{gnu.classpath.VMSystemProperties}

@code{VMSystemProperties} allows the VM to hook into the property creation
process, both before and after the system properties are added by GNU
Classpath.  The default implementation assumes that the VM will add its
properties first, by making the pre-initialisation method @code{native},
and that the Classpath properties may then be altered by a Java-based
post-initialisation method.

As these methods are called as part of the bootstrap process, caution should
be used as to what classes are used, and properties should only be set
using @code{Properties.setProperty()}.  Specifically, I/O classes should be
avoided at this early stage.

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{preInit(Properties)} -- Allows the VM to add properties
@emph{before} the Classpath properties are added. The default implementation
includes a full list of properties that @emph{must} be added by the VM, but
additional VM-specific ones may also be added.  
@item @code{postInit(Properties)} -- Same as the last, but called after the
Classpath properties have been added.  The main purpose of this is to allow
the VM to alter the properties added by GNU Classpath to suit it.
@end itemize

@node java.util, java.io, gnu.classpath, Classpath Hooks
@section java.util

The @code{java.util} VM hooks provide links between the mix of functionality
present in that package, which includes collections, date and time handling
and parsing.  At present, there is only one hook, which connects GNU Classpath
to the timezone information provided by the underlying platform.

@menu
* java.util.VMTimeZone::
@end menu

@node java.util.VMTimeZone,,java.util,java.util
@subsection @code{java.util.VMTimeZone}

@code{VMTimeZone} joins @code{TimeZone} to the platform timezone information
via the static method, @code{getDefaultTimeZoneId()}.  The VM hook is
expected to return a @code{TimeZone} instance that represents the current
timezone in use by the platform.  The default implementation provides
this functionality for POSIX or GNU-like systems, and VMs that want this
functionality can keep this implementation and implement the native
method, @code{getSystemTimeZoneId()}.  This method is only called when
obtaining the timezone name from the @code{TZ} environment variable,
@code{/etc/timezone} and @code{/etc/localtime} all fail.  This fallback
mechanism also means that a system which doesn't provide the above three
methods, but does provide a timezone in string form, can still use this
implementation.

@node java.io, java.security, java.util, Classpath Hooks
@section java.io

The @code{java.io} package is heavily reliant on access to the I/O facilities
of the underlying platform.  As far as its VM hooks go, they provide two
areas of functionality to GNU Classpath, these being

@itemize @bullet
@item File and directory queries and manipulation
@item Serialization of objects
@end itemize

The first corresponds directly to most of the @code{File} class, while
the latter underlies the functionality provided by the
@code{ObjectInputStream} and @code{ObjectOutputStream}.  More low-level I/O
is provided by @ref{java.nio}.

@menu
* java.io.VMFile::
* java.io.VMObjectInputStream::
* java.io.VMObjectStreamClass::
@end menu

@node java.io.VMFile,java.io.VMObjectInputStream,java.io,java.io
@subsection @code{java.io.VMFile}

@code{VMFile} allows GNU Classpath's @code{File} representations to
probe and modify the file system using the native functions of the
platform.  The default implementation (which consists of both a
@code{VMFile} class and the native methods) is primarily UNIX-centric,
working with POSIX functions and assuming case-sensitive filenames,
without the restriction of the 8.3 format.  It consists mainly of
@code{static} @code{native} methods, with a few Java helper methods.
The native methods represent the file as a string containing its path,
rather than using the object itself.

@itemize @bullet
@item Native Methods
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{lastModified(String)} -- The native method should return a
@code{long} value that represents the last modified date of the file.
@item @code{setReadOnly(String)} -- Sets the file's permissions to read only,
in whichever way this is realised by the platform.
@item @code{create(String)} -- Create the named file.
@item @code{list(String)} -- The native method opens the named directory,
reads the contents and returns them as a Java @code{String} array.
@item @code{renameTo(String,String)} -- Renames the first file to the second.
@item @code{length(String)} -- Returns a @code{long} value representing
the file size.
@item @code{exists(String)} -- Tests for the existence of the named file
or directory.
@item @code{delete(String)} -- Deletes the file or directory.
@item @code{setLastModified(String,long)} -- Change the last modified time.
@item @code{mkdir(String)} -- Creates the named directory.
@item @code{isFile(String)} -- Tests that the named path references a file.
@item @code{canWrite(String)} -- Tests that the file can be written to.
This method is @code{synchronized}, so the object is locked during the check.
@item @code{canRead(String)} -- Complement of the last method.
@item @code{isDirectory(String)} -- Tests that the named path references
a directory.
@end itemize
@item Java Helper Methods
@itemize @bullet
@item @code{canWriteDirectory(File)} -- Checks that the directory can be
written to, by trying to create a temporary file in it.
@item @code{listRoots()} -- Returns the root of a GNU filesystem i.e. `/'
in an array.
@item @code{isHidden(String)} -- Checks whether the file starts with `.',
which is how files are hidden on UNIX-style systems.
@item @code{getName(String)} -- Pulls the actual filename from the end of
the path, by breaking off the characters after the last occurrence of the
platform's file separator.
@item @code{getCanonicalForm(String)} -- This converts a UNIX path to
its canonical form by removing the `.' and `..' sections that occur within.
@end itemize
@end itemize

@node java.io.VMObjectInputStream,java.io.VMObjectStreamClass,java.io.VMFile,java.io
@subsection @code{java.io.VMObjectInputStream}

This class consists of two methods which provide functionality used in
deserializing an object.  @code{currentClassLoader()} provides the first
user-defined class loader from the class context
(@xref{gnu.classpath.VMStackWalker},) via a @code{PrivilegedAction}.
@code{allocateObject(Class,Class,Constructor)} is a @code{native} method
(a reference implementation is provided) which creates an object but
calls the constructor of another class, which is a superclass of the
object's class.

@node java.io.VMObjectStreamClass,,java.io.VMObjectInputStream,java.io
@subsection @code{java.io.VMObjectStreamClass}

@code{VMObjectStreamClass} is a series of @code{static} @code{native}
methods that provide some of the groundwork for @code{ObjectStreamClass}
and @code{ObjectStreamField}.  @code{hasClassInitializer(Class)} works
with the former, and checks for the presence of a static initializer.
The remaining methods are of the form @code{setXXXNative(Field,Object,XXX)}
and support @code{ObjectStreamField}.  One exists for each of the main types
(boolean, float, double, long, int, short, char, byte and object) and is used
to set the specified field in the supplied instance to the given value.

A default implementation is provided for all of them, so a VM implementation
is optional.

@node java.security, java.net, java.io, Classpath Hooks
@section java.security

The @code{java.security} package provides support for Java's security
architecture.  At present, @code{VMAccessController} represents the sole
VM hook for this.

@menu
* java.security.VMAccessController::
@end menu

@node java.security.VMAccessController,,java.security,java.security
@subsection @code{java.security.VMAccessController}

The @code{AccessController} is used to perform privileged actions.  Its
hook class, @code{VMAccessController}, maintains the
@code{AccessControlContext} and the default implementation is purely
Java-based.  The VM may choose to replace this with their own.
The methods in the reference version are as follows:

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{pushContext(AccessControlContext)} -- Adds a new context to the
stack for the current thread.  This is called before a privileged action
takes place.
@item @code{popContext()} -- Removes the top context from the stack.  This
is performed after the privileged action takes place.
@item @code{getContext()} -- Either derives a context based on the 
@code{ProtectionDomain}s of the call stack (see the next method) or returns
the top of the context stack.
@item @code{getStack()} -- Provides access to the call stack as a pair of
arrays of classes and method names.  The actual implementation returns
an empty array, indicating that there are no permissions.
@end itemize

@node java.net, java.nio, java.security, Classpath Hooks
@section java.net

The @code{java.net} package is heavily reliant on access to the networking
facilities of the underlying platform.  The VM hooks provide information
about the available network interfaces, and access to lookup facilities
for network addresses.

@menu
* java.net.VMInetAddress::
* java.net.VMNetworkInterface::
@end menu

@node java.net.VMInetAddress,java.net.VMNetworkInterface,java.net,java.net
@subsection @code{java.net.VMInetAddress}

@code{VMInetAddress} is a series of @code{static} @code{native} methods
which provide access to the platform's lookup facilities.  All the methods
are implemented by GNU Classpath, making VM implementation optional, and
are as follows:

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{getLocalHostname()} -- Wraps the @code{gethostname} function, and
falls back on `localhost'.
@item @code{lookupInaddrAny()} -- Returns the value of @code{INADDR_ANY}.
@item @code{getHostByAddr(byte[])} -- Looks up the hostname based on an IP
address.
@item @code{getHostByName(String)} -- The reverse of the last method, it
returns the IP addresses which the given host name resolves to.
@end itemize

@node java.net.VMNetworkInterface,,java.net.VMInetAddress,java.net
@subsection @code{java.net.VMNetworkInterface}

@code{VMNetworkInterface} currently consists of a single @code{static}
@code{native} method, @code{getInterfaces()}, which retrieves the
network interfaces available on the underlying platform as a @code{Vector}.
The current GNU Classpath implementation is a native stub.

@node java.nio, java.nio.channels, java.net, Classpath Hooks
@section java.nio

The @code{java.nio} package is part of the New I/O framework added in
Java 1.4.  This splits I/O into the concepts of @emph{buffers},
@emph{charsets}, @emph{channels} and @emph{selectors}, and
@code{java.nio} defines the buffer classes.  As far as native and VM
code is concerned, the new package needs support for low-level efficient
buffer operations.

@menu
* java.nio.VMDirectByteBuffer::
@end menu

@node java.nio.VMDirectByteBuffer,,java.nio,java.nio
@subsection @code{java.nio.VMDirectByteBuffer}

A @code{ByteBuffer} maintains a buffer of bytes, and allows it to be
manipulated using primitive operations such as @code{get}, @code{put},
@code{allocate} and @code{free}.  A direct buffer avoids intermediate
copying, and uses native data which shouldn't be manipulated by a
garbage collector.  The VM class consists of @code{static} @code{native}
methods, all of which are given default implementations by GNU
Classpath.

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{init()} -- Creates an instance of an appropriate
@code{gnu.classpath.RawData} class.  This class is not garbage
collected, is created natively and is used in the other methods to reference
the buffered data.
@item @code{allocate(int)} -- Allocates the memory for the buffer using
@code{malloc} and returns a reference to the @code{RawData} class.
@item @code{free(RawData)} -- Frees the memory used by the buffer.
@item @code{get(RawData,int)}  -- Returns the data at the specified index.
@item @code{get(RawData,int,byte[],int,int)} -- Copies a section of the
data into a byte array using @code{memcpy}.
@item @code{put(RawData,int,byte)} -- Puts the given data in the buffer
at the specified index.
@item @code{adjustAddress(RawData,int)} -- Adjusts the pointer into the buffer.
@item @code{shiftDown(RawData,int,int,int)} -- Moves the content of the buffer
at an offset down to a new offset using @code{memmove}.
@end itemize
 
@node java.nio.channels, gnu.java.nio, java.nio, Classpath Hooks
@section java.nio.channels

Channels provide the data for the buffers with the New I/O packages.
For example, a channel may wrap a file or a socket.  The VM hooks,
at the moment, simply allow the channels to be accessed by @code{java.io}
streams.

@menu
* java.nio.channels.VMChannels::
@end menu

@node java.nio.channels.VMChannels,,java.nio.channels,java.nio.channels
@subsection @code{java.nio.channels.VMChannels}

@code{VMChannels} provides the methods that create the channels or
streams.  The default implementation is in pure Java and simply wraps
the channels in standard I/O classes from @code{java.io}.

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{createStream(Class,Channel)} -- Creates a @code{FileChannel}
which wraps an instance of the specified stream class, created by reflection.
This method is private, and is used by the other two.
@item @code{newInputStream(ReadableByteChannel)} -- Wraps the channel
in a @code{FileInputStream}.
@item @code{newOutputStream(WritableByteChannel)} -- Wraps the channel
in a @code{FileOutputStream}.
@end itemize

@node gnu.java.nio, Classpath Callbacks, java.nio.channels, Classpath Hooks
@section gnu.java.nio

The @code{gnu.java.nio} class provides Classpath implementations of the
interfaces provided by @code{java.nio}.  The VM classes provide the native
support necessary to implement @emph{pipes} and @emph{selectors}.

@menu
* gnu.java.nio.VMPipe::
* gnu.java.nio.VMSelector::
@end menu

@node gnu.java.nio.VMPipe,gnu.java.nio.VMSelector,gnu.java.nio,gnu.java.nio
@subsection @code{gnu.java.nio.VMPipe}

@code{VMPipe} provides the native functionality for a uni-directional pipe
between a source and a destination (sink) channel.  It consists of one 
@code{static} @code{native} method, @code{init(PipeImpl,SelectorProvider)},
the reference implementation of which is currently a native stub.  Ideally,
this should initialise the pipe at the native level.

@node gnu.java.nio.VMSelector,,gnu.java.nio.VMPipe,gnu.java.nio
@subsection @code{gnu.java.nio.VMSelector}

A @code{Selector} selects between multiple @code{SelectableChannel}s based
on their readiness and a key set.  The VM hook for the Classpath implementation
of this is @code{VMSelector}, and this allows the actual @code{select()}
operation to be performed.  This is represented by the @code{static}
@code{native} method, @code{select(int[],int[],int[],long)}, and a default
implementation of this is provided.

@node Classpath Callbacks, , gnu.java.nio, Classpath Hooks
Some of the classes you implement for the VM will need to call back to
package-private methods in Classpath:

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{java.lang.ThreadGroup.addThread(Thread)}
Call this method from @code{Thread} when a new @code{Thread} is created, to add it to
the group.

@item @code{java.lang.ThreadGroup.removeThread(Thread)}
Call this method from @code{Thread} when a @code{Thread} is stopped or destroyed.
@end itemize

@node VM Hooks, JNI Implementation, Classpath Hooks, Top
@comment node-name, next, previous, up
@chapter VM Hooks

VMs need to do some dirty work; there are some things in the VM that
unfortunately are dependent on the internal structure of various
classes.  This is a guide to all of the things the VM itself needs to
know about classes.

Some of the core classes, while being implemented by GNU Classpath,
provide space for state (in the form of a @code{vmdata} object) to be
stored by the VM, and can not be constructed normally.

@itemize @bullet
@item java.lang.Class
@item java.lang.ClassLoader
@end itemize

The default implementations of some VM classes also follow this methodology,
when it is intended that most VMs will keep the default.

@itemize @bullet
@item java.lang.VMThread
@item java.lang.VMThrowable
@end itemize

Several core classes must be completely implemented by the VM for Classpath to
work, although reference implementations are provided.  These classes are:

@itemize @bullet
@item java.lang.reflect.Constructor
@item java.lang.reflect.Method
@item java.lang.reflect.Field
@end itemize

The following issues are of note;

@itemize @bullet
@item @code{java.lang.Class} @*
The GNU Classpath implementation of @code{java.lang.Class} provides an
object for storing the internal state of the class maintained by the VM.
This is the only known place where this matters.  The class is
constructed with this data by the VM.  Some VMs do not create the
@code{Class} object at the point where the class is defined; instead,
they wait until a @code{Class} object is actually used.

@item Array Classes @*
When you are creating an array class, you should set the
@code{ClassLoader} of the array class to the @code{ClassLoader} of its
component type.  Whenever you add a class to a @code{ClassLoader}, you
need to notify the @code{ClassLoader} and add the new @code{Class} to
its internal cache of classes.  To do this, call
@code{ClassLoader.addVMCreatedClass(Class)}.  @emph{Note: this is
written in anticipation of 1.2 support and does not apply just yet.}

@item Primordial Class Loader @*
When the primordial class loader loads a class, it needs to tell
Classpath what it has done in order for security stuff to work right.
To do this, call the static method
@code{ClassLoader.newPrimordialClass(Class)}.

Even the first few core classes need to do this; in order to do it,
simply call this method @emph{after} the initial class loading has been
done.  No harm will come, as long as you follow the guidelines in the
@pxref{Initialization} section.

@emph{Note: this is written in anticipation of 1.2 support and does not
apply just yet.}

@item Top-level Exception Handler @*
Exceptions take care of themselves in Classpath; all you need to do in
the top-level exception handler is call @code{Throwable.printStackTrace()}.

@item Security and Traces @*
There will eventually be a feature in the 1.2 security that keeps the
@code{AccessController} from having to evaluate @emph{all} of the
@code{ProtectionDomain}s every time a security check is made.  I think a common
case is a single method doing a lot of things that require security
checks.  However, I don't want to bog down the method stack too much, so
this feature of the VM will have the @code{AccessController} for a thread
calling out to the VM to tell it how high it was on the stack when it
made the last security request.  Every time the stack goes lower than
that number, the VM will decrement the number.  The @code{AccessController}
will remember what the accumulated protection status was at every stack
level (an @code{AccessControlContext}) and use that aggregated information to
do the check.  I am not sure, however, whether the savings are
substantial enough to outweigh the integer check and set after every
method call.  I will investigate.

@item Threading @*
I figured I'd put this here because a VM guy might be wondering about it.
We implement @code{ThreadGroup}, but that class is almost entirely
VM-independent.  The root @code{ThreadGroup}, a static field called
@code{ThreadGroup.root}, should be initialized by Classpath, but if you wish to
reinitialize it yourself, there should be no harm.

@end itemize

@node JNI Implementation, Miscellaneous VM Requirements, VM Hooks, Top
@comment  node-name,  next,  previous,  up
@chapter JNI Implementation

Classpath comes with its own implementation of @file{jni.h}.  This
file can be customized by the VM in a few ways, by defining macros
that affect the interpretation of the file.  These macros are all
intended for use by a VM which uses GNU Classpath and which wants to
use a single copy of @file{jni.h} for both internal and external use.

@itemize @bullet
@item _CLASSPATH_VM_JNI_TYPES_DEFINED
Some VMs like to define JNI ``object'' types in a special way.  If
this macro is defined, the Classpath @file{jni.h} will avoid defining
these types.  By default, these types are defined in @file{jni.h}.
The full list of types and macros treated this way is: @samp{jobject},
@samp{jclass}, @samp{jstring}, @samp{jthrowable}, @samp{jweak},
@samp{jarray}, @samp{jobjectArray}, @samp{jbyteArray},
@samp{jshortArray}, @samp{jintArray}, @samp{jlongArray},
@samp{jbooleanArray}, @samp{jcharArray}, @samp{jfloatArray},
@samp{jdoubleArray}, @samp{JNIEnv}, @samp{JavaVM}, @samp{JNI_TRUE}
(macro), @samp{JNI_FALSE} (macro).

@item _CLASSPATH_VM_INTERNAL_TYPES_DEFINED
If the VM has its own definitions for @samp{jfieldID} and
@samp{jmethodID}, then it should define this macro.  Otherwise,
@file{jni.h} will provide definitions for these types.

@item _CLASSPATH_JNIIMPEXP
Three functions -- @samp{JNI_GetDefaultJavaVMInitArgs},
@samp{JNI_CreateJavaVM}, and @samp{JNI_GetCreatedJavaVMs} -- must be
marked as @samp{JNIIMPORT} when seen by user code, but most likely
should be marked as @samp{JNIEXPORT} when defined in the VM
implementation.  This macro can be defined to one or the other by the
VM as appropriate.  If this macro is not defined, it defaults to
@samp{JNIIMPORT}.

@item _CLASSPATH_JNIENV_CONTENTS
A VM can add fields to the @samp{JNIEnv} structure by defining this to
be a sequence of field declarations.

@end itemize


@node Miscellaneous VM Requirements,  , JNI Implementation, Top
@comment  node-name,  next,  previous,  up
@chapter Miscellaneous VM Requirements

Classpath places a few requirements on the VM that uses it.

@menu
* JNI Version::                 
* VM Threading Model::          
* Boot Library Path Property::
@end menu

@node JNI Version, VM Threading Model, Miscellaneous VM Requirements, Miscellaneous VM Requirements
@comment  node-name,  next,  previous,  up
@section JNI Version

Classpath currently uses only JNI 1.1, except for one JNI 1.2 function
in the JNI Invocation API: GetEnv().  And GetEnv() is only used in the
``portable native sync'' code, so it's only actually used by Jikes RVM
and Kaffe.  

A future direction will probably be to require that all VMs provide
JNI 1.2.  If this poses problems, please raise them on the classpath
mailing list. 

@node VM Threading Model, Boot Library Path Property, JNI Version, Miscellaneous VM Requirements
@comment  node-name,  next,  previous,  up
@section VM Threading Model

Classpath's AWT peers use GTK+.  GTK+ uses GLIB.  Normally, Classpath
will initialize GLIB's @dfn{gthreads} to use
the platform's native threading model@footnote{The native threading
model is pthreads on Linux and AIX, the two platforms Classpath
currently runs on.}

If the Java runtime doesn't use the native threading model, then you
will want Classpath to tell GLIB to use the Java threading primitives
instead.  Otherwise, GLIB would use the native threading model to
perform operations such as creating thread-local data, and that just
doesn't work on systems (such as Kaffe in some configurations, and
such as Jikes RVM) that use @i{m}:@i{n} threading.

Historically, enabling the Java threading primitives had been done at
build time, by configuring classpath with the
@option{--portable-native-sync} option.  This had bad consequences,
though -- it meant that the prebuild GNU Classpath package distributed
with Debian GNU/Linux would not be usable with VMs that could
otherwise have used it.  Instead, we encourage
the use of the Java system property
@code{gnu.classpath.awt.gtk.portable.native.sync}.  A VM that wants
GLIB to use the Java threading primitives should modify
@code{VMRuntime.insertSystemProperties()} to include code like the
following:

@example
static void insertSystemProperties(Properties @var{p}) 
@end example
...
@example
@var{p}.put("gnu.classpath.awt.gtk.portable.native.sync", "true");
@end example

So, the configure option
@option{--portable-native-sync} is deprecated, and should go away in a
subsequent release of GNU Classpath.

@node Boot Library Path Property,  , VM Threading Model, Miscellaneous VM Requirements
@comment  node-name,  next,  previous,  up
@section Boot Library Path Property

As of GNU Classpath 0.15 a system property named @code{gnu.classpath.boot.library.path}
can be set by the VM to specify the directories which contain GNU Classpath's native
libraries. Usually this value is given at configuration time and is then hardcoded
in the VM. However for development purposes it is handy to switch to another installation
by overriding the properties' value on the command line.

A VM that does not support this feature can simply ignore the property.

For compatibility reasons we suggest to set the default value of @code{java.library.path}
to the value of the @code{LD_LIBRARY_PATH} environment if it exists on your platform.

@bye