Re: [avr-gcc-list] generic queue library for AVR GCC?

[E. Weddington]

Bruce D. Lightner wrote:

> Bruce
>
> P.S.- I applaud Eric Weddington for his restraint in commenting
> on the posts about using Java constructs!
>
>   Now can somebody develop a Java run-time library to use on
>   the 8-bit AVR, so we can use GCJ <http://gcc.gnu.org/java/>
>   to compile Java to native AVR machine code? :-)
>
> I know that we embedded 8-bit microcontroller programmers are
> clamoring to switch to Java!  I just know in my heart that our
> code will be "better", and also smaller!  :-)
>
> BTW: I hope that he really *wasn't* serious!
[OT]

Well, only partially. :-)

I don't think that Java on an 8-bit micro would be helpful per se. It 
more than likely would be a bit of a waste. I'm definitely not in favour 
of having a full blown JVM on the AVR; I do think *that* would be a waste.

I am somewhat intrigued by the fact that GCJ (the Java compiler portion 
of GCC) can compile Java to native machine code, i.e. no JVM required. I 
actually looked briefly into what it would take to do this for the AVR 
target. From what I understand is that a "support library" (IIRC, 
libjava in the GCC world) for the AVR would be required in order to get 
it to work. This has been done for IIRC, the Lego stuff, which I think 
is the H8. It was done at university as an experiment to see if it was 
feasible. I don't have the links to the relevant info at the moment. So, 
I understand that something like this on the AVR would probably fall in 
the realm of a "curiousity".  I never mentioned this on any list because 
it was doubtful that anyone had the resources or inclination to try 
something like this, including me :-)

Eric