JInput system-wide installation on linux

Engines, Libraries and Tools JInput
#1

I am currently merging my favorite worlds Java and Gentoo Linux together but have the following problem while writing an ebuild (installation script) for JInput:
The problem is that I do not know where to put the jinput plugin files (linux.jar and libjinput.so) for a comfortable system-wide installation.

Please do not treat this as a gentoo specific problem. The question is only were to put these files in an environment were multiple JVMs are available and can be installed after jinput.

I know that the plugin files should live in “lib/ext/controller” but copying them to that location would be a bad idea when the JVM with “lib/ext/controller” gets replaced.
Or should I leave the plugin installation completely to the user and provide only the infrastructure by installing jinput.jar?

If someone is interested on a discussion on the ebuilds itself have a look at this: http://forums.gentoo.org/viewtopic.php?t=145027

#2

Hmm.

Didnt we hack in the ability to set the plug in directory to an arbitrary location with a property?

That would mean that you would have to set the property in your Java install’s system properties every time you re-installed it OR would have to set it with -D on the command line of every program that used it.

Not ideal but I can’t think of another solution thats any better.

Anyone?

JK

#3

[quote]I know that the plugin files should live in “lib/ext/controller” but copying them to that location would be a bad idea when the JVM with “lib/ext/controller” gets replaced.
[/quote]
Any ‘standard extension’ has the same issue.

JInput is small - it is probably best not to go with a system-wide installation. It can screw up other games that may need a newer build because the system-wide one will load instead.

#4

We might want to reverse that precedence.

Opinions?

#5

Hi
As with all installed plugins you have problems if you install an older version over the top of a newer one. If you are using one installed with the application and have one installed into the vm then doesn’t the jvm location get searched last? (not tried it, and at work not home to test it right now)

Cheers

Endolf