GNU Classpath README - Last updated: August 6, 2006 (for release 0.92) GNU Classpath, Essential Libraries for Java is a project to create a free software implementation of the core class libraries for the java programming language. Additionally, GNU Classpath includes a sub-project called GNU Classpath Tools whose goal is to provide a number of free replacements for standard Java development tools like javadoc, javap, and others. A sub-project called GNU Inetlib, can be used as an extension library to provide extra network protocol support (ftp, finger, gopher) for GNU Classpath. It can also be used as a standalone to ease adding http, imap, pop3 and smtp client support to applictions. These subprojects are normally released independently from the core libraries. This is a development snapshot release only and is not for general purpose use. GNU Classpath needs to be combined with a proper development environment to be useable for end users. Eventually, these essential libraries for java will work with as many free compilers and runtimes as possible. Complete development environments known to be based on GNU Classpath include (recommended for end users): * GCC with GCJ (http://gcc.gnu.org/java/) * Kaffe (http://www.kaffe.org/) Smaller environments (runtime only, no compilers, no tools) which work with this GNU Classpath releases include (tested by and recommended for GNU Classpath hackers): * CACAO (http://www.cacaojvm.org/) * JamVM (http://jamvm.sourceforge.net/) * Jikes RVM (http://jikesrvm.sourceforge.net/) In general the latest releases of the above VMs will work out of the box with the latest GNU Classpath release (and in most cases directly with the development sources from CVS). Besides combining GNU Classpath with the runtimes and compilers above you might want to add support for additional extension libraries (mail, activation, infobus, servlet) check out the GNU ClasspathX project (http://www.gnu.org/software/classpathx/). Some tools come with their own customized version of GNU Classpath. Please check if there is a customized version available for the tool you use before trying the bare bones GNU Classpath release. We are working with the tool creators to keep the differences between the core classes as small as possible. Please tell us if you make GNU Classpath work with a new tool. Active projects which use modified versions of the Classpath libraries some of which synchronizes with the Classpath CVS head every couple of weeks: * IKVM.NET (http://www.ikvm.net/) * JC (http://jcvm.sourceforge.net/) * JNode (http://jnode.sourceforge.net/) * MysaifuVM (http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~dat/java/project/jvm/) * SableVM (http://www.sablevm.org/) For a more complete list of GNU Classpath based projects, see the GNU Classpath website: http://www.gnu.org/software/classpath/stories.html See the file INSTALL for details on installing GNU Classpath. See the file NEWS for details on what is included in this release. See the file TODO for the latest to do list. See the file HACKING for working on (non-released) CVS development versions. Homepage: http://www.gnu.org/software/classpath/ Bugs should be reported via bugzilla, available from the GNU Classpath website: http://www.gnu.org/software/classpath/bugs.html General Mailing List: classpath@gnu.org --> To subscribe send email to classpath-request@gnu.org with a subject and body of "subscribe". To unsubscribe do the same, only with a body and subject of "unsubscribe". This is a smartlist managed mailing list. Patches Mailing List: classpath-patches@gnu.org --> Proposed patches should be sent to the GNU Classpath patches list --> To subscribe send email to classpath-patches-request@gnu.org with a subject and body of "subscribe". To unsubscribe do the same, only with a body and subject of "unsubscribe". This is a smartlist managed mailing list. Anonymous CVS: --> "cvs -z3 -d:pserver:anonymous@cvs.savannah.gnu.org:/sources/classpath co classpath" --> More detailed instructions available on the Savannah project website. http://savannah.gnu.org/projects/classpath/ Happy Hacking!