JavaOS

Infobox OS
name = JavaOS



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developer = Sun Microsystems
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working_state = Discontinued
supported_platforms = ARM, PowerPC, SPARC, x86
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JavaOS is an operating system with a Java virtual machine as a fundamental component. It is developed by Sun Microsystems. Unlike Windows, Mac OS, Unix or Unix-like systems which are primarily written in the C programming language, JavaOS is primarily written in Java.

As of 2006, Sun considers JavaOS a legacy system.

Design

The system is based on a hardware architecture native microkernel. The Java virtual machine runs on top of the microkernel.

Platforms that the kernel runs on include:
* ARM
* PowerPC
* SPARC
* StrongARM
* x86

All device drivers are written in Java and executed by the virtual machine.

A graphics and windowing system, implementing the AWT API is also written in Java.

Applications

JavaOS was designed to run on embedded systems and has applications in devices such as set top boxes, networking infrastructure and ATMs. It's also the operating system that comes with the JavaStation.

Future

Sun now officially considers JavaOS a legacy system and recommends migrationto Java ME. [ cite web | title = entry on JavaOS | work = CDC FAQ | url=http://java.sun.com/products/cdc/faq.html#cp8 | accessyear = 2006 | accessmonthday = October 11 ] This by itself however is not a full replacement, as Java ME is an API specification, which runs on top of an operating system, and is not an operating system in itself.

See also

* JNode
* JX (operating system)
* SavaJe
* Sanos

References

External links

* [http://www.itmweb.com/f031098.htm Inside the IBM JavaOS Project]
* [http://java.sun.com/javaone/sessions/slides/TT04/startit.html JavaOS Architecture presentation from Sun]
* [http://www4.informatik.uni-erlangen.de/Projects/JX/index.html JX Java OS]
* [http://onesearch.sun.com/search/clickthru?qt=JavaSoft&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.sun.com%2Fsmi%2FPress%2Fsunflash%2F1996-05%2Fsunflash.960529.11819.html&pathInfo=%2Fonesearch%2Findex.jsp&hitNum=6&col=all-filtered Press release announcing JavaOS] (May 29, 1996)