Java. Which VM, which OS?

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1

Hi everyone!

We are trying to build a system dedicated to blind users based on a
capacitive touch panel and a few buttons (input), audio output and
network access. GUI support isn't mandatory. The software is written
in Java.

I am currently playing around with Angstrom on a C4 Beagleboard. Which
Java VMs are currently recommendable? I am also thinking about giving
other OSs a try (Android, Ubuntu?). There are tons of projects, proof
of concepts… any advice?

thank's,
Armin

2

I haven't got my hands on a Beagleboard as yet, but am very
interested in Oracle's Java 6 Embedded for ARM processors. The
requirements are at: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/embedded/overview/sys-reqs-embedded-159989.html

3

Hi everyone!

We are trying to build a system dedicated to blind users based on a
capacitive touch panel and a few buttons (input), audio output and
network access. GUI support isn't mandatory. The software is written
in Java.

I am currently playing around with Angstrom on a C4 Beagleboard. Which
Java VMs are currently recommendable? I am also thinking about giving
other OSs a try (Android, Ubuntu?). There are tons of projects, proof
of concepts… any advice?

I like 'jamvm'. The guys over at Bug Labs are likely to know the
best. Check out their forums[1] and work that was started back in
2008[2]. A more recent status update[3] shows that 'jamvm' can now
use the OpenJDK and recent commits to OE[4] show that 'shark-vm' can
be used.

Perhaps some of the Ubuntu experts could chime in with info on the
latest Java support there?

[1] http://community.buglabs.net/forums/6-Java-/topics/331-Java-JVM
[2] http://smancke.blogs.evolvis.org/tag/openjdk-jalimo-arm-linux-maemo-openmoko-buglabs-java-mo/
[3] Terminus: ... a thousand words (JamVM/OpenJDK update 2)
[4] Re: [oe] Openjdk shark and cacao VMs not working - shark fixed

4

FWIW I just gave this a try. It's certainly a lot faster than the
openjdk one although it's not exactly breaking any land speed records
- seems about 2x faster on a few little toy apps I tried. That at
least makes it feel in the same order as other similar applications.

When you spend most of your time on a 3.3ghzx6 core machine it's hard
to evaluate performance on something like the beagleboard objectively.

5

compare it against a small python or C app to give you some ideas

6

yeah, everything's as slow as a dead dog ... that was my point.