[[email protected]: ref: SISC for J2ME]

----- Forwarded message from eleftherios stavridis <[email protected]> -----

Envelope-to: scgmille@localhost
Delivery-date: Sun, 04 Jan 2004 08:13:20 -0600
From: eleftherios stavridis <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: ref: SISC for J2ME

Hi Scott,

I assume that you are aware of the Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME)
platform[1], aimed at devices with limited memory and processing power
such as mobile phones & PDAs. I am wondering whether it would be feasible
to implement something like SISC for this platform (namely, for CLDC
1.0[2]/CLDC 2.0[3] & MIDP 1.0[4]/MIDP 2.0[5] class of devices) in such a
way that complete applications can be developed in Scheme rather than in
Java.

The current practice in developing J2ME applications is a cross-platform
one. The application programmer develops the application on a desktop
computer and then transfers the (pre-verified) bytecode to the device via
infrared/bluetooth/OTA (over the air provisioning). To avoid this long and
tedious development cycle, device emulators exist (for example, as part of
Sun's J2ME Wireless Toolkit[6][7]) so that programmers can compile and
test their code on a virtual device.

Taking that as a starting point, I think that -given the right approach-
there is a lot to be gained in producing a Scheme interpreter/J2ME
compatible bytecode compiler for the J2ME platform:

 (a)  Developing device-independent applications for millions of mobile
      devices using the benefits of Scheme. Nearly all mobile device
      manufacturers (including Nokia, Motorola & Sony Ericsson) support
      J2ME in all their new handsets. This gives a very concrete market
      to Scheme programmers.
 (b)  If an on-device Scheme interpreter is available, then on-device
      development is possible. This might not sound practical but one
      can always connect a full-size bluetooth keyboard to the device
      and mobile phone screens offer 65k colors and are much larger
      these days (Nokia 6600[8] as an example). More novel approaches
      are also possible, such as using T9 predicatble text. Furthermore,
      this approach has already been demonstrated by Mobile Basic[9].
 (c)  Run-time Extensible and "scriptable" applications [10].

I will avoid to get into implementation details (such as the lack of
java.lang.reflection) as I am only trying to put things in perspective
for you. I would really like to hear your views on the matter, given
your experience with SISC and last, to express my will to contribute
a couple of devices for development purposes and $2000 USD upon (loosely)
agreed deliverables (given that the code will be GPLed).

Cordially,

-es

---
[1]  Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME). http://java.sun.com/j2me/

[2]  JSR-000030 J2ME Connected, Limited Device Configuration.
     http://jcp.org/aboutJava/communityprocess/final/jsr030/index.html

[3]  JSR-000139 Connected Limited Device Configuration 1.1.
     http://jcp.org/aboutJava/communityprocess/final/jsr139/index.html

[4]  JSR-000037 Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP).
     http://jcp.org/aboutJava/communityprocess/final/jsr037/index.html

[5]  JSR-000118 Mobile Information Device Profile 2.0.
     http://jcp.org/aboutJava/communityprocess/final/jsr118/index.html

[6]  Sun J2ME Wireless Toolkit. http://java.sun.com/products/j2mewtoolkit/

[7]  Sun Wireless Development Tutorial Part I.
     http://developers.sun.com/techtopics/mobility/midp/articles/wtoolkit/

[8]  Nokia 6600 technical specifications.
     http://www.forum.nokia.com/main/1,6566,015_291,00.html

[9]  Mobile Basic programming language. http://www.mobilebasic.com/

[10] IBM developerworks. "Mobile applications need scripting too!".
     http://www-106.ibm.com/developerworks/wireless/library/
     wi-elite16.html?ca=dgr-lnxw01WirelessScripts



----- End forwarded message -----

--

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNATURE-----
Version: GnuPG v1.2.2 (GNU/Linux)

iD8DBQE/+JSRr9IW4v3mHtQRArZrAJ45rboe2AtVuCxtoDHYPrZw8f/5cACfbf+v
4yf4D4OtswxJ0SUldsaW17I=
=lP4b
-----END PGP SIGNATURE-----