Re: SISC in applets

Matthias Radestock wrote:

>> In other news, I added a target that builds sisc-heap.jar.  This 
>> contains sisc/boot/sisc.shp and sisc/boot/HeapAnchor.class.
>
>
> Can you explain what HeapAnchorClass is for? I've read the comment in 
> the file but I still do not understand why we need the class. 


I needed to load sisc.shp from a JAR.  The ClassLoader can't find it 
except via SomeClassInTheSamePath.class.getResource("sisc.shp").  Since 
the SISC build script builds the heap and jars, and I figured other 
people could use a JAR with the heap in it, I ran the idea by Scott.  He 
said ok and to put the class in sisc.boot.

> How an embedded SISC system (applets are just one case of this) 
> locates and accesses the heap should be up to the programmer. I 
> dislike the idea of having code in the SISC core that makes as many 
> assumptions as the code above, e.g.
>
> * that the heap file is called sisc.shp
> * that the heap file is available as a resource
> * that the heap file lives under sisc/boot
>
> *none* of these assumptions are true when SISC is run from the command 
> line.


No, nor would they necessarily be in an applet.  It's an extra feature 
that no one is obligated to utilize, and thus it is still "up to the 
programmer".

It's not so much an issue of how SISC works as the build system. And the 
build system already *does* create the heap and name it "sisc.shp".  
Sticking it in a JAR too is useful and something appropriate for a build 
script to do, optionally mind you.  And if it's in a JAR, it's going to 
be "available as a resource".  And given that, it's useful for it to 
have a reliable location, eg. "under sisc/boot".

None of the additions I've made or suggested require changing any 
existing or future code.  They're just extra features.  I would put them 
in contrib/ but I think that would be too hairy and I don't see that 
they interfere with anything in the SISC main tree.

Yes/no?


-Turadg




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