Re: [Gnash-dev] Platform independent implementation of Gnash?

[Dieter Krachtus]

> > I wonder if it would be possible in theory to get a Gnash port to 
> > Java? Java supports OpenGL very well (e.g. via Jogl) and already has 
> > a plugin for most Browsers. There will be soon a new improved 
> > Consumer JRE with improved performance compareable to Flash. I think 
> > Java would be the perfect basis - at least in theory. Not only that 
> > Java is Open Source but with one implementation one would then 
> > directly target all OS Windows/Linux/OSX/Solaris and all major 
> > browsers like IE/Firefox/Safari, etc.
> >
> > What do you think?
>
> The fact that a Java application or applet requires a Java 
> installation would
> stop a lot of people from even considering using such a Flash player. 
> Now that
> Java SDK has become free software, perhaps that will change in time.
>
> That said, we have already achieved the portability you've mentioned. 
> So there
> will be little incentive to consider rewriting Gnash in Java.
>
> (What's a "consumer JRE"?)
>
> Bastiaan

"Consumer JRE" is a term used to describe a lot of effort Sun is putting 
into fixing all major problems Java has when embedded as a plugin in the 
browser. It will be released in Winter or early Spring 08. Basically it 
will be just be what Java is today but startup very fast, has very low 
memory footprint, easy to install, similar download size like the Flash 
plugin etc.

For me at least a second implementation -- even though it is open source 
-- of Flash on the same platform (i.e. native Win/Linux) is not 
incredibly interesting from a user point of view. Technically it is 
however very interesting. Still I doubt that it will ever come close to 
the quality of Adobe's flash player. Even if it Gnash is equal to 
Flash...or even better then Adobe Flash it will still be used by much 
less then 1% of the people. If Gnash were on a different platform having 
the same quality as Flash this would be a completely different pair of 
shoes. You could do completely new things. Anyway you probably have the 
opposite opinion and I respect that - so no offence.

Cheers,
Dieter