blog.stringtree.org » Friki

Is it time for Java 5?

Stringtree — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 19:59:00 +0000

A major goal of the Stringtree software project has always been to be as compatible as possible with all the software people are using for their Java development. Naturally that also includes whatever Java version is being used.

For a long time I interpreted this goal as implying that all Stringtree code should run on all Java versions from Java 1.2 onwards. Java 1.4, however, introduced some compelling new features including built-in regular-expression handling. For a few years I still tried to ensure that most code was still 1.2-compatible (for example by using Ant to swap in a third-party regular-expression library while building a jar file), while also providing a Java 1.4 version. Eventually, use of Java versions prior to 1.4 declined enough that I felt comfortable removing the complicated pre-1.4 version.

For the last few years I have been very careful to keep all my Stringtree code compatible with all versions of Java from 1.4 upwards. Now, however, the pressure is building again to move over to Java 5. In my day-to-day coding I develop with Java 5 and make increasing use of Java 5 features such as the enhanced for loop, the Iterable interface, enums, generics, autoboxing, varargs and so on. It would be very nice to be able to update the Stringtree codebase to use these features too.

Occasionally a Java 5-specific detail has crept in to a Stringtree library, and I have soon received comments or emails pointing this out. I haven’t noticed this for a while, which might indicate either that I have been especially careful, or that I there are no longer any/many people developing with Stringtree code who are still limited to Java 1.4.

If you are reading this and you still require Java 1.4 support, please let me know. Likewise, if you have thrown off the shackles of 1.4 within the last year or so or are desperately hoping for a Java 5 Stringtree that would be good to know too.

Is it time for Java 5 yet?

Demo Friki currently out of action

Stringtree — Wed, 18 Jul 2007 19:56:05 +0000

I have just been informed by my hosting provider that they have had to disable the Java support on the server running the example Friki. Apparently this is due to too many applications from different users clogging up the stderr logs. I won’t be able to re-enable Friki until I have ensured that it does not log anything to stderr.

In practice I have not touched the Friki code in ages, and the demo installation was filling up with Wiki spam, so I might take this opportunity to bring Friki into line with current Stringtree practice.

Sorry if you were looking for a demo, but I’ll announce here when it is back again.

Friki on the WikiMatrix

Stringtree — Fri, 16 Dec 2005 19:59:43 +0000

There’s a new wiki comparison web site wikimatrix.org. I got an email from the organizers asking if I would like to add Friki to their list, and I happily did so. The list is filling up nicely (you can find the detals for Friki here), and has already prompted me to think about if/how I can add some of the other popular features to Friki.

While you’re at their site, don’t forget to check out their discussion forum, too.