java without X11?

[Achilleus Mantzios]

O Fernan Aguero έγραψε στις May 4, 2006 :

> +----[ To freebsd-java at freebsd.org <fernan at iib.unsam.edu.ar> (04.May.2006 09:18):
> |
> | Hi!
> | 
> | I was setting up a headless (no X11, no GUI) box and had to
> | install java (required by apache-ant and by a java code that
> | interacts with an underlying postgresql database).
> | 
> | I want this box to run only the base system (cut down to
> | only essential daemons/processes) and one application
> | (postgresql + associated perl/java layers).
> 
> [ snipped ]
>  
> | I know that a lot of java apps depend on GUI functionality
> | provided by the language, but is this java+X11 a thing that
> | cannot be separated? (i.e.  X11 is rooted too deep into
> | java) or maybe it could be separated and we could have an
> | optional WITHOUT_X11 in the various jdk ports?
> 
> Now replying to myself. After a couple of google searches,
> it seems like yes, X11 (at least before jdk15) was too tied
> to java. 

My previous message regraded jdk 1.4.2, i havent checked with jdk 1.5.
(sorry)

> 
> The following, however, suggests that jdk15 can be run in
> headless boxes without X11, even when there is java code
> that generates and/or works with graphics
> http://www.eteks.com/pja/en/forum/viewSubject.jsp?subjectId=481#612
> 

They (eteks) produce a product just for that use.
I had checked it out back in 1.3 days.
The problem then was not X11 installation itself but the fact that 
a X11 server was needed in order to use AWT
(java wanted to connect to an X DISPLAY).
At the time, the workaround for headless servers was to use
Xvfb (virtual frame buffer).

But today (1.4.2, 1.5) we dont have to bother with such issues
any more.
I'd recommend installing xorg-libraries and then use the 
-Djava.awt.headless=true switch.

Keeping X11-libraries updated adds some admin cost, but 
i dont think its a big issue.

> I'm not a java expert at all, just a consumer of java tools,
> so I can't really think of helping with a non-X11 jdk15 ... but
> maybe I can push this on the freebsd-java agenda :) ?
> 
> | 
> | Thanks,
> | 
> | Fernan
> |
> +----]
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-- 
-Achilleus