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SaverBeans SDK README
---------------------
The SaverBeans SDK is a Java screensaver development kit, enabling developers
to create cross-platform screensavers. The developer writes a set of Java
classes along with an XML description of the screensaver settings, and uses
the tools in this development kit to produce a screensaver for any
Java-supported OS. The resulting screensavers behave just like a native
screensaver (i.e. with preview capabilities and control over settings).
Screensaver SDK Components
--------------------------
The SaverBeans SDK contains the following components:
* SaverBeans Ant Task JAR - A JAR required by screensaver
projects, used to produce native screensavers.
* SaverBeans API JAR - These are redistributable files to be
included with your generated screensavers.
* SaverBeans API Javadocs - Javadocs for the SaverBeans APIs.
* Screensaver Startup Kit - Sample project including a build file,
skeleton screensaver and configuration file.
SaverBeans Screensaver Pack
---------------------------
The SaverBeans SDK does not itself contain any screensavers. It is
only a development kit for producing screensavers.
A collection of open source Java screensavers contributed by the
Java community is available in the SaverBeans Screensaver Pack, which
is hosted in the screensavers project on java.net:
http://screensavers.dev.java.net/
Design and Implementation Details
---------------------------------
A native layer has been developed for each target operating system so
that the screensaver plugs in naturally into the existing OS screensaver
framework.
For Linux and Solaris, the xscreensaver framework is used. For Windows,
a native .scr is produced. Support for other operating systems is
possible and contributions are welcome. The screensavers themselves
are written in Java, depending only on Java APIs, and are completely
cross-platform.
An XEmbeddedFrame (for JDK 1.5) is attached to the native window and
the native code ensures the embedded frame is always the right size
and location. A ScreensaverContext is populated with a reference to
the component, which is passed to the screensaver. The screensaver
writes directly to the embedded frame. To the user, it appears as
though the code is writing directly to the native window.
Java screensavers extend SimpleScreensaver and implement init() and
paint() methods. The paint method is called automatically on a
regular basis to render the next frame of the animation. Future
screensavers may extend an alternate base class that will allow the
screensaver to be able to control its own timing. This has not yet
been implemented. Again, contributions are most welcome.
To specify which options a screensaver accepts, an xscreensaver-compatible
.xml file is created with the settings. When the screensaver is to be
built, a code generator reads the .xml file and produces supplementary
code to allow a native wrapper to be produced. For xscreensaver platforms,
the supplementary code consists of simple configuration information so
that screenhack can validate commandline parameters. For Windows, code
is automatically generated for a dialog box that enables settings to
be tweaked.
Building the SDK
----------------
To build the SDK from source, your system must meet the following
requirements:
* JDK 1.4 or greater, available from http://java.sun.com/
* Ant 1.5.1 or greater, available from http://ant.apache.org/
To build the SDK:
1. Copy build.properties.sample to build.properties.
2. Edit build.properties and follow the instructions in that file
to configure for your environment.
3. Run 'ant dist' to build the SDK.
To rebuild the Win32 Native Layer:
To rebuild the Win32 native layer (optional), you must have a
licensed copy of Visual C++ 5.0 with Service Pack 3 installed.
(Without SP3 you'll get a strange error message with the linker).
Execute VCVARS32.bat in the command prompt you use to build. You may
need to tweak some environment settings to get everything building.
You can get Serivce Pack 3 here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/downloads/updates/sp/vs97/default.aspx
Make sure to get the FULL pack.
The binary is checked into the CVS repository so unless you change
any files in the src/ant-native/win32 directory, you will not need this.
If you do need to rebuild it, the relevant ant target is ant-native-win32.
Building the Screensavers
-------------------------
To build screensavers developed using this kit, see the requirements
outlined in the Screensaver Startup Kit.
SaverBeans Ant Task JAR
-----------------------
The SaverBeans Ant Task JAR contains an ant task used by
screensaver projects to generate the supporting code for your
target platform.
The ForEachScreensaver ant task reads in a screensaver
configuration file and automatically generates supporting
code for your target platform.
For an example of how this task is used, see the startup kit.
To define the <foreachscreensaver> ant task, use the taskdef ant task
as follows:
<taskdef name="foreachscreensaver"
classname="org.jdesktop.jdic.screensaver.autogen.ForEachScreensaver"
classpath="${saverbeans-ant.jar.path}" />
Where ${saverbeans-ant.jar.path} is the full path to the generated
saverbeans-ant.jar.
Once the task has been defined, add a target for each desired platform, and
invoke the <foreachscreensaver> in each target as follows:
<foreachscreensaver confDir="${src.conf}"
outDir="${build}/gensrc"
buildDir="${build}/linux"
os="unix">
<!-- Build steps for Unix -->
</foreachscreensaver>
Where:
confDir is the directory containing a set of screensaver XML
configuration files, one for each screensaver.
outDir is a directory that the foreachscreensaver task can use to
generate temporary intermediate files.
buildDir is a directory that final .class files should be
generated to
os is the target operating system. Current possible values are:
unix - Use this value for Unix operating systems such as
Solaris and Linux.
win32 - Use this value for Windows operating systems such
as Windows 98 or XP.
In the body of the <foreachscreensaver> task, place the steps needed
to build the screensaver for that particular OS. The body is repeated
once for each screensaver configuration file in confDir.
The Screensaver startup kit contains a build.xml with the necessary
steps and configuration to build on both Linux and Windows.
SaverBeans API JAR
------------------
This component of the SaverBeans SDK is a redistributable JAR
that is distributed with your screensaver. A single copy of this
JAR must be installed on the user's system in order for them to be
able to run the screensaver.
SaverBeans API Javadocs
-----------------------
This component contains the generated javadocs for the SaverBeans
API. These javadocs are used as a reference by screensaver
developers.
Screensaver Startup Kit
-----------------------
This component is a skeleton screensaver project startup kit,
containing a build.xml, simple screensaver and a configuration file.
It allows screensaver developers to get a quick start and provides a
consistent look and feel between screensaver projects developed using
the SaverBeans SDK.
To create your own screensaver, simply unpack the startup kit
to a new directory and start tweaking!
Use the ant 'debug' target during development to preview your screensaver
in a ScreensaverFrame. When done, use the ant 'dist' target to produce
your final screensaver bundles for each supported platform.
When you're done, be sure to visit the http://screensavers.dev.java.net/
project to share your work with the community!
Support
-------
Support for SaverBeans is provided by the Java community on the
JDIC and screensavers projects on java.net. There are various
forums and mailing lists available.
* http://jdic.dev.java.net/
* http://screensavers.dev.java.net/
Revision History
----------------
Version 0.1.1 - June 10, 2004
* Fixed screensavers.dev.java.net issue #1:
Fatal Exception if *.scr and *.jar not in system32 directory
* Fixed jdic.dev.java.net issue #20:
ScreensaverFrame for developers
- Added ScreensaverFrame and ant debug target to make it easier to
debug screensavers.
* Fixed jdic.dev.java.net issue #21:
Screensaver exceptions not being caught in init() method
* Improved Unix Makefile to give error message when dirs don't exist
* Building on Windows now produces correct newlines for unix distribution
Version 0.1 - June 1, 2004
* Initial open-source release of SaverBeans SDK