path: root/NEWS

Runtime interface changes:

* New gnu.classpath.VMSystemProperties class. This replaces the
  system properties initialization in VMRuntime. Note that it is
  now the VMs responsibility to set one additional property:
  gnu.cpu.endian should be set to "big" or "little".
* VMRuntime.nativeGetLibname() has been renamed to VMRuntime.mapLibraryName()
  and has only one argument, the name of the library.
* String and StringBuffer now call VMSystem.arraycopy() directly and don't
  go through java.lang.System. Be careful to not initialize java.lang.System
  early in the bootstrap sequence in your VM runtime interface classes.

New in release 0.12 (Nov 14, 2004)

* GNU Classpath's JAR implementation now has preliminary support for
  signed entries, for so called "signed JAR" file support. Signed JAR
  files are one of the key security features of managed runtimes, and
  allows code to run privileged given unforgeable proofs of identity.
* A much improved version of X.509 certificates has been added,
  including a robust certificate path checking algorithm. Also
  included is an implementation of the RSA signature scheme.
* Full java.awt.color implementation, with all standard ICC profiles,
  except for PhotoYCC color space.
* java.beans 1.4 updates and bug fixes.
* java.awt.image support updated to 1.4.
* Improved build process. Uses less memory with gcj and C code is
  buildable with -Werror on most platform. Please configure with
  --enable-Werror and report any remaining issues.
* Big-endian (PowerPC) fixes for native awt GTK+ peers.
* Checkstyle support, see scripts/checkstyle-config.xml.
* Better AWT focus management fro GTK+ peers.
* Much faster and better fonts support
  (for both gdk Graphics and cairo Graphics2D)
* AWT Choice fixes for hidden components.
* HTTP Connection Handler fixes for POST support.
* Much fuller collection documentation.
* Lots of Calendar bug fixes.
* More javax.imageio support.
* Better AWT Help MenuBar support.
* Lookahead support for regular expressions.
* Serialization object stream fixes for multiple ClassLoader scenarios.
* Swing TabbedPane, ColorChooser and ComboBox improvements.
* Start of JTree functionality.
* Improved Eclipse 3 support for GNU Classpath based runtimes.

Runtime interface Changes:

* New --enable-java-lang-system-explicit-initialization configuration
  option. (Warning, will be replaced in next release, please consult
  the mailinglist.)
* The reference implementation of VMClassLoader has default
  implementations for getResource(s) and provides support for a new
  default getSystemClassLoader implementation.

New in release 0.11 (Sep 13, 2004)

* javax.swing.Spring and SpringLayout support.
* Added pluggable look and feel support for BasicTextFieldUI and
  BasicToolBarSeparatorUI.
* java.swing.text support for (Default and Layered) Highlighter, FieldView,
  PlainView, TabExpander and TabableView added.
* Start of JTable and JTree implementation.
* Internal Swing frames work.
* JMenu and JPopupMenu work.
* New gtk+ AWT FileDialog peer now based on gtk+2.4 or higher.
* java.awt.image LookupTables and kernel support.
* Improved java.awt.image.BufferedImage support.
* AWT 1.0 event model support.
* GNU Classpath now comes with some example programs (see examples/README).
* New javax.crypto, javax.crypto.interfaces, javax.crypto.spec, javax.net,
  javax.net.ssl, javax.security.auth, javax.security.auth.callback,
  javax.security.auth.login, javax.security.auth.x500, javax.security.sasl
  and org.ietf.jgss packages are now officially part of GNU Classpath.
  Extra crypto algorithms can be obtained from the GNU Crypto project,
  a full TLS implementation is provided by the Jessie project.
  http://www.gnu.org/software/gnu-crypto/
  http://www.nongnu.org/jessie/
* Frame.setIconImage() support.
* AWT GDKGraphics scaling.
* New configure flag --enable-gtk-cairo to build Graphics2D implementation
  build on cairo and pangoft2.  Enabled at runtime by defining the system
  property gnu.java.awt.peer.gtk.Graphics=Graphics2D.
* javax.swing.JSpinner implemented.
* Extensive documentation update for java.util collection classes.
* java.awt.geom completed. Area, Arc2D, Ellipse2D and Line2D implemented.
* GNU JAXP is no longer included with GNU Classpath. Runtime, compiler and
  tool integrators are encouraged to directly integrate GNU JAXP.
  This release has been tested against GNU JAXP 1.1.
  http://www.gnu.org/software/classpathx/jaxp/jaxp.html
* JColorChooser, JComboBox and JTextField implemented, including example
  uses in GNU Classpath Examples swing Demo.

Runtime interface Changes:

* java.lang.Compiler now uses the new java.lang.VMCompiler; there is
  a reference implementation that most VMs can use.
* java.lang.VMSystem has a new getenv(String) method and a reference C/JNI
  implementation that should work on most Posix like systems.
* java.util.TimeZone has been split into a platform independent class and
  a platform dependent class VMTimeZone.  GNU Classpath comes with a generic
  way to get at the default time zone for Posix/GNU-like platforms.
* [VM]AccessController improvements.  In particular it handles
  `doPrivileged' calls better, and allows for recursive `doPrivileged'
  calls in the same Thread. (see vm/reference/java/security/)

New in release 0.10 (Jul 9, 2004)

* java.net.URL now uses application classloader to load URLStreamHandlers
  and reuses URLStreamHandlers when URL is reset (but protocol isn't changed).
* java.io.File.deleteOnExit() implementation.
* java.text multiple new features and bug fixes
  (only 2 out of the 1000+ java.text Mauve tests now fail).
* Better (non-black) default AWT System colors.
* AWT lists use GTK treeviews.
* Proper AWT focus management has been implemented.
* Swing menus and scrollpanes are beginning to work.
* Swing splitpanes, dialogs and internal frames were added.
* Swing repainting / double buffering was redone.
* Font management and Pango DPI conversion fixes.
* A lot of AWT imaging and event bugs have been picked out.
* More of javax.swing.text has been implemented.
* javax.swing.Timer has been reimplemented.
* java.security.AccessController has been implemented
  (see runtime section).
* The default java.lang.SecurityManager now uses AccessController.
* New java.beans.Statement and Expression implementations.
* Small FileChannel implementation speed improvement for traditional
  JNI based systems.
* Regenerated all included JNI header files with gcjh (3.5 CVS),
  removes extra extern modifier and allows stricter compiler warning.
* More C code cleanups (-Wmissing-declarations, -Wmissing-prototypes and
  -Wstring-prototypes) and jni.h fixes (a few funtion prototype fixes,
  made it compilable with C++ compilers and jni.h got renamed from jni.h.in).
* Double.toString() and Float.toString() now work properly on 64-bit 
  PowerPC systems.
* PPC Darwin, arm, x86-64 and s/390 JNI C code compilation fixes.
* Build system refactored and removed old Japhar specific support.
* The gnu.java.awt.EmbeddedWindow class has been improved, and now
  supports embedding AWT windows in other top-level X windows.
  This functionality is required by gcjwebplugin.
* gcjwebplugin, an applet viewer that can be embedded into several web
  browsers, has been extensively tested with this release of classpath.
  (See http://www.nongnu.org/gcjwebplugin/)
* Runtime environments based on GNU Classpath 0.10 should be able to
  start up Eclipse 3.0 out of the box now.

Runtime interface Changes:

* VMProcess.destroy() default implementation fixes.
* Fixed the "portable native sync" code; it had been broken since
  Classpath release 0.06, when we upgraded to GTK+2.    
  Classpath's AWT peers use GTK+.  GTK+ uses GLIB.  GLIB by default uses
  the platform's native threading model -- pthreads in most cases.
  If the Java runtime doesn't use the native threading model, then you should
  specify --portable-native-sync when configuring Classpath, so that GLIB will
  use the Java threading primitives instead.  (For a superior alternative,
  see below.)
* The VM can set the system property
  gnu.classpath.awt.gtk.portable.native.sync instead of using the
  --portable-native-sync configure-type option.
  See doc/vmintegration.texinfo for details.
* We intend that the next release of GNU Classpath will require the VM 
  to provide JNI 1.2.  Classpath currently uses only JNI 1.1, except for 
  one JNI 1.2 function: GetEnv(), in the JNI Invocation API. 
  If this poses problems, please raise them on the classpath mailing list.
* The reference implementation of VMThread.holdsLock(Object) now has
  a default implementation written in java. For efficiency and to
  prevent spurious wakeups a real 'native' runtime version can be supplied.
* There is a new java.security.VMAccessController class that runtimes need
  to implement to properly support SecurityManagers. The default
  implementation that comes with GNU Classpath makes sure that ANY attempt
  to access a protected resource is denied when a SecurityManager is
  installed. Which is pretty secure, but also no very useful.
  Please see the documentation in
  vm/reference/java/security/VMAccessController.java,
  and please give feedback on the GNU Classpath mailinglist whether or not
  the current AccessController framework is flexible enough.

New in release 0.09 (May 2, 2004)

* Includes updated GNU JAXP version from 2004-02-01.
* Native C code is now -ansi -pedantic (C89) clean and (almost) -Wall clean.
* java.io is now implemented by delegating most tasks directly to java.nio.
* Reworked/Optimized implementations of java.nio.Buffer and subclasses.
* New javax.print, javax.print.attribute[.standard] and javax.print.event
  packages and classes.
* java.text attributed iterators support.
* New javax.imageio, javax.imageio.event and javax.imageio.spi packages and
  classes.
* GNU Classpath can now load service providers that are described via
  META-INF/services/* resources in extension JARs. This is useful for
  implementing the various APIs that are supposed to be extensible via
  custom plugins. For details, please see the documentation of
  gnu.classpath.ServiceFactory.
  Application developers are strongly discouraged from calling glibj
  internal packages.  Instead, they might want invoke the newly implemented
  javax.imageio.spi.ServiceRegistry.lookupProviders, which is a standard 
  method for loading plug-ins.
* New developers wanting to help the GNU Classpath project might want to
  review the greatly expanded Hacker Guide included in the doc directory
  or online at http://www.gnu.org/software/classpath/docs/hacking.html
  Also the FAQ has been expanded. And when working from CVS you can now use
  a simple autogen.sh script to get all autotools magic done automagically.
* New configure option --with-glibj which defines how to install the glibj
  class files as zip, as flat directory files or both (zip|flat|both)
  [default=zip].  When working with multiple runtimes some of which might
  not support bootstrap classes in zip files the --with-glibj=both option
  is recommended (this does take extra disc space).
* Two big code drops from the libgcj gui branch updating various java.awt
  and javax.swing classes.
* Multiple java.net.InetAdress fixes and java.rmi fixes.
* ServerSocket.accept() now restarts listening when system call interrupted.
* Much cleanups to make standard API doc valid XHTML (not completed yet).
* A scan for unused variables and non-static invocation of static methods
  turned up a couple of subtle bugs which have now all been fixed.
* The Mauve testsuite has been cleaned up considerable and lots of issues
  in the GNU Classpath core class implementation have been fixed.

VM Interface changes:

* java.lang.Class/VMClass interface was changed. The interface now no
  longer requires an instance of VMClass for each Class instance. Instead
  the field vmdata in Class is now of type Object.
* GNU Classpath now assumes that JNI calls SetXField can modify final
  fields. This was previously used silently for System.in/out/err and should
  be considered as a feature now.
* A new VMProcess and a sample JNI C implementation are now provided to
  make Runtime.exec() work out of the box on some systems.  This requires
  a small change to VMRuntime.exec() when a runtime wants to use it as the
  default java.lang.Process implementation.
* The implementation of most of java.io through java.nio moved serveral
  runtime specific I/O methods. Most methods do have a generic default native
  C JNI implementation in native/jni/java-nio.
* Runtime support methods for java.io.File have been moved to VMFile which
  also comes with a default JNI C implementation.
* To support the new service provider mechanism runtimes must make sure that
  extension JARs are made accessible via the default context class loader.

New in release 0.08 (2004/12/03)

* java.util.regexp implementation through gnu.regexp wrappers.
* java.net.URI implementation.
* Working implementation of javax.swing.undo.
* java.awt.geom.CubicCurve2D/QuadCurve2D: Can now solve cubic and quadratic
  equations; implementation adapted from the GNU Scientific Library.
* Lots of java.awt and gtk+ peer improvements. Also more Swing work. Start
  of EmbeddedWindow support.
* BufferedReader speed improvements.
* Improved useabilty of java.text implementation for several applications.
* ObjectInputStream is much faster and more compatible with other
  implementations.
* Fix handling of alias methods, where a method has been deprecated in
  favour of a new one with the same funtion but a different name.
  (See Deprecated Methods section in the GNU Classpath Hacking Guide.)
* javax.print.attribute.standard added.
* Lots of java.nio, java.net, java.io
* Depend on autoconf 2.59+ and automake 1.7+, GCJ 3.3+, jikes 1.18+.

VM Interface changes:
* Split native methods in java.lang.Runtime into java.lang.VMRuntime.
* Resources are now also loaded/needed through the bootstrap classloader
  (gnu.regexp needs MessageBundle included in glibj.zip

Fixed Classpath bugs:
  #6095 java.awt.geom.QuadCurve2D.solveQuadratic sometimes gives
        wrong results
  #7099 EventListenerList.getListenerCount should accept null argument
  #7104 EventListenerList.add does not work
  #7105 EventListenerList.remove does not work
  #7107 DefaultBoundedRangeModel.setValue and friends should not throw
  And lots more.

New in release 0.07 (2003/30/11)

* Works with libtool 1.5 (and 1.4.3).
* java.awt gtk+ peers now depend on gtk+ 2.2.x and uses pango.
  Lots and lots improvements on the peers.
* java.awt.geom.CubicCurve2D, java.awt.geom.QuadCurve2D:
  Subdivision and flatness calculation implemented.
* java.awt.geom.FlatteningPathIterator: Working implementation.
* gnu.java.awt.BitwiseXORComposite helper class.
* New rmic compilers (jikes, kjc) support.
* java.text bug fixing and 1.4 updates (Currency).
* Hashtable and HashMap function more similar to other implementations.
* javax.naming and java.beans classloader fixes.
* URL parsing, URLConnection, protocol and (needed) permission fixes.
* More java.nio implementation
  (API complete, but implementation not finished yet).
* Lots of java.net code cleanup.
* Improved documentation.
* Numerous bug fixes in almost every package, and lots of updates for
  1.4 functionality.
* Fixed Classpath bugs:
  #2944 Incorrect synchronization in java.util.logging.ErrorManager
  #6075 java.awt.geom.GeneralPath.getCurrentPoint returns wrong results
  #6076 java.awt.geom.GeneralPath constructor sometimes hangs
  #6089 java.awt.geom.GeneralPath.getPathIterator does not work
  [...]

VM Interface changes:

* Thread has been split in a VM-independent Thread class and a VM-dependent
  VMThread class.

New in release 0.06 (2003/22/08)

* Update java.awt peers to GTK+2.
* java.awt.GridBagLayout implementation.
* javax.swing.border implementation.
* java.security and java.security.cert updated to 1.4 spec.
* New JNI native target code layer. See native/target/readme.txt.
* --enable-regen-headers configure flag for automatic jni .h file generation.
* Removed workaround for gcj 3.2 and lower, gcj 3.3+ or jikes 1.18+ is now
  needed for compiling.
* Lots of improvements and/or new classes for java.awt, java.awt.dnd,
  java.awt.font, java.awt.geom, java.awt.image, java.io, java.math, java.net,
  java.nio, java.rmi, java.text, java.util, javax.swing, javax.swing.plaf,
  javax.swing.text.

VM Interface changes:

* VMClassLoader.loadClass(), the bootstrap classloader called by
  Class.forName() and ClassLoader.loadClass(), may now return null when
  a class is not found instead of throwing a new ClassNotFoundException.
  This is a performance optimization in some cases. This also changes
  the Class.forName() reference code.
* Native methods in Class have been moved to VMClass.  A few additional
  methods are also available in VMClass to provide optional performance
  improvements.
* A VM can now supply its own String.intern() strategy through the
  VMString class. The supplied VMString reference class implements the
  original WeakHashMap strategy.
* Float and Double to/from bits conversion functions can now be supplied by
  the VM through VMFloat and VMDouble. Default JNI conversion methods are
  supplied.

New in release 0.05 (2003/02/15)
* Supports free Java VMs Jikes RVM and Kissme out of the box, perhaps others.
* Supports GNU Crypto 1.1 as the official provider of cryptographic primitives
  and tools for GNU Classpath, available separately from 
  http://www.gnu.org/software/classpathx/crypto/crypto.html. 
* Supports GNU Classpath Tools sub-project of GNU Classpath, official provider
  of standard tools such as gjdoc, a javadoc replacement, and others.  Future
  releases of GNU Classpath will begin to include these tools, available
  separately from http://www.gnu.org/software/cp-tools/.
* Java primitives can be used to support AWT native threading, see 
  the --enable-portable-native-sync configure option which may become the
  default in a future release.
* Include file jni.h has been updated to the 1.4 specification.
* VM specific internal types for jobject, jfieldID, and jmethodID are
  supported in jni.h.  More details can be found by reading the comment
  in include/jni.h.in.  By default the old definitions are used instead.
* New VM helper class java.io.VMObjectStreamClass which should provide
  the hasClassInitializer() method. Previously ObjectStreamClass used
  Class.getDeclaredMethod("<clinit>") but according to the spec this
  should always throw NoSuchMethodException for class initialization methods.
  A JNI reference implementation is provided as
  vm/reference/java-io/java_io_VMObjectStreamClass.c
* There have been numerous infrastructure improvements
  * Configure option --enable-gjdoc to generate javadoc-like output 
  * Gjdoc output is included with distribution, see doc/api/html/
  * DESTDIR fully supported for install and uninstall
* Runtime.execInternal contract changed to allow for null `env'
  and to accept `dir' argument.
* VMObject.getClass() removed. It was never used.
* java.lang.Throwable is now a 'normal' GNU Classpath class that uses the
  VM specific java.lang.VMThrowable to get at the VM state and (if needed)
  the StackTraceElements for a particular exception. A default implementation
  (that does nothing) is provided in vm/reference/java/lang/VMThrowable.java.
* The vm/reference classes from the gnu.vm.stack and their counterparts
  ExecutionStack and StackFrame in gnu.java.lang have been removed since they
  are not actually part of the VM interface anyway.
* The GPLed com.sun.javadoc classes have been moved to the gjdoc application
  from the GNU Classpath Tools project. See for more information the homepage
  at: <http://www.gnu.org/software/cp-tools/>.

New in release 0.04 (2002/05/05)
* Additional configure options to disable zip creation and installation as
  well as disable gtk peer native compilation.
* Addition of java.nio, java.util.logging, and javax.swing.
* Integration of most or all of the ORP patches to date, the purpose of 
  which are to make it possible to use JBOSS with ORP and Classpath.  This
  is still in a testing phase however.
* Significant changes in the reference VM interface that may require
  support from the JVMs.
* Lots of bugfixes.

New in release 0.03 (2002/02/08)
* More merges with libgcj have been performed including java.math which now
  provides a pure Java implementation of that package.
  Current status at <http://gcc.gnu.org/java/libgcj-classpath-compare.html>
* A pure Java implementation (Jazzlib) of java.util.zip is available.
* Added the java.rmi implementation that Transvirtual donated to the FSF.
* Includes jni.h now, eliminating the need to specify a particular VM
  via configure.
* No proprietary classes or programs are required to compile.
  Compiles out of the box with jikes or gcj.
* Separation of compiling Java source and native libraries through the 
  configure mechanism.  If given no arguments, configure will setup the
  subsequent build to only produce Java bytecode (.class files).  More
  information is available in INSTALLING.
* Support for compiling in a separate directory, as an example you may
  cd classpath-0.03; mkdir build; cd build; ../configure; make
* Works with Orp 1.0.9 out of the box. Build instructions can be found at
  <http://www.gnu.org/software/classpath/doc/orp.html>
* Lots of bugfixes that were found by using Classpath with the gcj, Orp,
  SableVM, KissMe and Jaos VMs. Please use our bugdatabase at
  <http://savannah.gnu.org/support/?group_id=85>
* Lots of updates to make Classpath more compliant with the 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4
  API specification. The current status can be found at
  <http://www.gnu.org/software/classpath/status.html>
* All files are now distributed under the same terms. Added clarification to
  GPL exception.

New in release 0.02 (2001/01/06)
* Support for printing exceptions with Japhar 0.09 + patch included in
  resource/japhar-0.09.patch.1.
* Typos, assorted bugfixes.

New in release 0.01 (2000/11/20)
* More packages are included now, though many remain untested.
* Support for Japhar 0.09 included.

New in release 0.00 (1999/02/01)
* First official development release of clean room class library for Java
* Following packages included:
	-- java.beans
	-- java.io
	-- java.lang
	-- java.lang.reflect
	-- java.math
	-- java.net
	-- java.security (partial and non-functioning)
	-- java.security.acl
	-- java.security.interfaces
	-- java.util
* Code is mostly Java 2 (see JDK 1.2) compatible with some functionality
  missing and/or untested.
* Support for Japhar (http://www.japhar.org/) virtual machine is included.
  Requires the current Japhar from CVS.
* Extensive javadoc comments for public API included
* Licensed under the GNU Library General Public License (see COPYING.LIB)
* Does not depend on any non-free code - developed in a "clean room"
  environment.