J Beta

New J701 abeta with significant changes is available as of 8 June 2010 for all platforms. This version has Jconsole and JHS (browser client/J server) frontends, the latest J engine, and is packaged with the new library and folder structure. The library is leaner and cleaner. The system depends on JAL (pacman) for managing the installation of addons.

JAL can be used from both Jconsole and JHS. The JHS support is preliminary, but gives an idea of direction.

It may be possible to use JAL to install the JGTK front end in linux and mac but this has not been tested. A windows install requires the GTK libraries and these are not currently available through JAL. You could copy the GTK folder from the earlier GTK beta and then a JAL download of the JGTK scripts might work.

Please read the JHS jhelp and play with the demos. Although still rough, it might be time to take a look at GUI programming with JHS.

*** the following is pretty much unchanged from the previous version of this page ***

A simple, but far reaching, J Engine change makes it relatively easy to completely write a J front end in J. This has enabled the development of two new J front ends.

The first is JHS (j http server) where a browser is the front end. The browser is a powerful front end that has some advantages over other approaches. Almost by definition it is familiar to all users and is the most completely cross platform. With html, xhtml, css, ajax, and javascript it is a rich environment. It would be a mistake to continue to ignore the focus of resources and users on the browser as the window on the world. J701 lets your browser be your window on J, as well as on everything else.

The second is JGTK which is based on the GTK+ portable library for creating graphical user interfaces. This is on the bleeding edge of what is possible and will allow the ultimate in power user tools and applications.

The j.exe (Windows API) front end has served us well for a long time. Perhaps its days are numbered and it is not too early to start moving on.

The j.jar (Java) frond end also served well. But it never measured up to the Java hype, never caught up with j.exe, has been a source of problems, and doesn't generate any excitement about the future.

We think the next phase in front ends is with the browser and GTK. j.exe and j.jar are legacy technologies.

Packaging is another area of change. This is largely driven by the great success of JAL (J Application Library). The ability to easily update and extend a system with JAL encourages us to strip down the base system.

The base system install for each platform is a minimum J system with jconsole and jhs front ends. If you want other front ends (JGTK, j.exe, j.jar,...) they will be available through JAL. The minimal install doesn't even include the help included in previous releases. You will be able to download and install local help with JAL, but in many cases it might be easier to use help at the web site. The help files at the web site have not yet been updated for J701.

The install process for each platform is pretty much unchanged from previous releases. Install and run jhs to start a task to serve a browser.

   J32 Windows:   j701abeta_win.exe
   J64 Windows:   j701abeta_win64.exe
   J32 Linux:     j701abeta_linux32.sh
   J64 Linux:     j701abeta_linux64.sh
   J32 Mac Intel: j701abeta_mac_intel.dmg
   J32 Mac ppc:   j701abeta_mac_powerpc.dmg

Linux32 and Linux64

If downloaded to ~/temp , do a standard J32 install with:
...> sh ~/temp/j701abeta_linux32.sh -install
For J64 use 64 instead of 32. Run without -install for options.

Mac

Download to Desktop and double-click to mount. Drag j701 to Home for a standard install or to Applications for a multi-user install. Run jhs with red J icon in the j701 folder.

Jsoftware JHS (J Http Server)

J701 is running as a web server at Jsoftware. You can create a J user account and use J from anywhere. Your J session shares a unix user account with other J users of the service. Your courtesy and care in using this resource shared with others in the J community is appreciated.

This is early days. We are not interested in ergonomics or stress and security tests. Please use carefully with an eye on the big picture.

JUM (J User Manager) manages jhs user accounts. Use it to create an account, start a task, get status to link to your task, signal attention, and kill your task.

1. follow http://www.jsoftware.com:50001/jum to JUM
2. enter password: jumjum
3. press J User Manager link
4. enter a user name (e.g. clark_kent)
5. press new to create your account
6. !!! write down your password !!!
7. press start to start your task
8. press status to see your status
9. follow jijx link to your task
10. enter your password (from step 6)
11. follow jijx link to your jijx page
12. bookmark your jijx page (so next time you don't need JUM)