You’re thinking like an engineer. Just because everybody have been using Fortran and OpenGL for ages doesn’t mean that it’s going to stay like that forever. I see opportunity in technology shifts. Just because 60 years old Mr. Tired Professor holds on to his beloved old tools like his life depended on them doesn’t mean 25 years old Ms. Eager Student will. She’s got a totally different outlook. And she’s probably going to work somewhere in industry rather than in academia. It’s a totally different environment.
uj, could you please stop talking about OpenGL like it’s a dead API or something? Just because you read about DX10’s (really exciting) features so many months before being able to use them, doesn’t mean that OpenGL is so far behind, or that it won’t be able to support a couple of new hardware features. Are you aware that DX10 features won’t be accessible on pre-Vista Windows? Are you aware of the new object model and GL3.0? Just give me a new driver with a new extension and I’ll be able to use geometry shaders on WinXP/Linux/whatever right now.
Btw, +1 from me for a DX binding. There’s nothing wrong with writing a Java app that targets the windows platform exclusively. The same goes for other platforms.
Both OpenGL and DirectX are alive and I’ve not argued that one is better than the other. It’s a question of choise.
What I find amazing is that there still exists an almost religious sentiment that Java is more than just a programming language. It’s a beacon in the darkness of non-portability and it’s a sword to fight evil forces (read Microsoft). So it follows that Java just cannot support DirectX. I just don’t share this idea.
I think you are the only person here who ever done a binding and are experienced. I doubt anyone else would be able to do it right and in less time than you could. Why don’t you try it?
A DirectX binding would have an advantage. It would not be first that MS would try to criple the competition by doing some mumbo-jambo with windows. So a DX binding would sort of shield Java developers fears and give more confidence.
For Gods sake you contradict yourself in every post. If you want to be devils advocate at least do it in an inteligent way.
And you who are so intelligent would you please give an example of such a contradiction; A single one in the whole thread. And I’m not anybody’s advocate. I’m expressing my own view.
One year ago I wanted to write a Direct3D-Binding for Java. But I stopped, because I didn’t had an idea how to free native resources in a determenistic way (finalizers are undeterministic) when an object isn’t referenced anymore. So if you have an idea, tell me please …
By the way: It would be great, if Sony uses Java as a reactiion to Microsoft’s XNA stuff on their PS3. Maybe that will be possible, when Java is completely open-source …
Because my wife’s just left me and I don’t really give a shit any more about anything much 
Even if I did… I’m happy with what I’ve got. Elias might well be up for it though, he’s trying to make a proper business out of Oddlabs.
Cas
Do you realy need to do that?
No, he doesn’t, it’s a red herring. GC is about memory management, not resource management.
Cas
But how do I know, when I have to free native resources?
So the reason why we want a DX binding is for reliability. The problem is that a non-Sun-backed API is bound to be buggy, even Java3D seems to have loads of trouble with DX depending on whether its fullscreen/windowed, etc.
Come on now zingbat, I’m waiting for you to produce an example of a contradiction. Shouldn’t be too hard considering your great intelligence and the large number of posts I’ve made.
No more flames please or the thread will be locked.
Cas
How ironic…
Flames lead to board wars…and some other misjudging things.
@Thread: As of OGL isn’t anymore limited in vista, the situation is ok for me. I dislike the idea of playing Quake with DX. None the less DX is powerfull, but limited to Windows. A binding might be interesting, but the overall effort would be no compare to the usage i think.
That rather depends on whether a decent JVM becomes available for the 360.
Cas
Java for the 360 would be really cool.
Does anyone know how to install own apps on the 360 without that devkit from M$?
You’re reacting very slowly Mr. Forum Moderator. The only flaming in this thread has been by Jeff already in post #42 where he calls me a troll. Other than that I can see no flaming. Can You? I suggest you clarify your position.
I’m just asking Zingbat to justify what he claimed, nameley that I’m contradicting myself.
So Zingbat, where’s your example? In this whole thread just give one single example of where I’m contradicting myself? Can you do that or have you been bullshitting?
I’m not a moderator, and that was a flame.
Now, enough rubbish, just go away and write a DX binding for us and everyone will be happy.
Cas