GNU Classpath README - Last updated: May 2, 2004

GNU Classpath, Essential Libraries for Java is a project to create
a complete "clean room" implementation of the Java class libraries 
that will also be free software.  Additionally GNU Classpath now 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, javah, and others.

This is a development snapshot release only and is not ready for general
purpose use.  You need to combine it at least with one of the development
environments mentioned below.

Eventually, these essential libraries for Java will work with as many 
free JVMs 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 (runtime only) environments which work with unmodified GNU Classpath
releases include (recommended for GNU Classpath hackers):

	* JamVM		(http://www.jamvmv.org/)
	* Jikes RVM	(http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/oss/jikesrvm/)
	* Kissme	(http://kissme.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).

Some tools come with their own customized version of GNU Classpath.
Please check if there is a customised 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/)
	* SableVM       (http://www.sablevm.org)

See for a more complete list of GNU Classpath based projects 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/

General Mailing List: classpath@gnu.org
  --> Bugs and patches can be reported via Savannah if you have a browser
      or via this address otherwise.
  --> To subscribe send email to classpath-request@gnu.org with a 
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CVS Commit, Bugs and Patches List: commit-classpath@gnu.org
  --> To subscribe send email to commit-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
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Anonymous CVSROOT: :pserver:anoncvs@savannah.gnu.org:/cvsroot/classpath 
  --> First do "cvs login".  Hit <Return> when prompted for a password
  --> More detailed instructions available on the Savannah project website.
      http://savannah.gnu.org/projects/classpath/

Happy Hacking!