Linux Internals from Java Apps

This means two things:

• having JNI-based libraries tha allows Java apps to call Linux (Posix) system calls, when it needs access to some feature not provided by the Java standard API, for example, changing file permissions or device-node creation;
• Interacting with X-based desktops, including but not restricted to Gnome and KDE. Most of the libraries would just access text configuration files, but desktop integration (file associations, panel docking, etc) would be welcome.

Most of this would benefit not just Linux, but the whole Unix community (including MacOS X users)

Here's some resources about the first topic (I particularly like the JavaUnix library -- first link):

• http://www.xenonsoft.demon.co.uk/products/javaunix/
• http://www.basepath.com/aup/jtux/
• http://www.hio.hen.nl/java/nl/nl/hen/ict/unix/package-summary.html
• http://ringlord.com/publications/jni-howto/
• http://pandonia.canberra.edu.au/java/posix/paper.html
• http://www.bmsi.com/java/posix/package.html

I not could find rsources for X-desktop integration (Java-gnome, http://java-gnome.sourceforge.net is nice but too radical for Swing developers).

I really think we miss a JSR providing a standard API for Posix systemcalls and X-based desktops.

-- Main.flozano - 27 Jan 2004