J Sharp
| Paradigm | Object-oriented, structured, imperative | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Developer | Microsoft | ||
| First appeared | 2002 | ||
| v2.0 Second Edition / 18 May 2007 | |||
| Platform | .NET Framework | ||
| |||
Visual J# (pronounced 'jay-sharp') programming language was a transitional language for programmers of Java and Visual J++ languages, so they could use their existing knowledge and applications on .NET Framework.
J# worked with Java bytecode as well as source so it could be used to transition applications that used third-party libraries even if their original source code was unavailable. It was developed by the Hyderabad-based Microsoft India Development Center at HITEC City in India.[1]
Fundamental differences between J# and Java
Java and J# use the same general syntax but there are non-Java conventions in J# to support the .NET environment. For example, to use .NET "properties" with a standard JavaBean class, it is necessary to prefix getter and setter methods with the Javadoc-like annotation:
/** @beanproperty */
…and change the corresponding private variable name to be different from the suffix of the getXxx/setXxx names.
J# does not compile Java-language source code to Java bytecode (.class files), and does not support Java applet development or the ability to host applets directly in a web browser, although it does provide a wrapper called Microsoft J# Browser Controls for hosting them as ActiveX objects. Finally, Java Native Interface (JNI) and Raw Native Interface (RNI) are substituted with P/Invoke; J# does not support Remote Method Invocation (RMI).
J#'s interface to the .NET framework is solid, but not as seamless as C#. In particular, J# code cannot define new .NET attributes, events, value types, or delegates. J# can make use of these language constructs if they are defined in an assembly written in another language, but its inability to define new ones limits J#'s reach and interoperability compared to other .NET languages.
Future of J#
In January 2007, Microsoft announced:[2]
- That Microsoft would produce an updated version of Visual J# 2.0, including a 64-bit redistributable version, called J# 2.0 Second Edition to meet customer demand for 64-bit runtime support. Microsoft released Visual J# 2.0 Second Edition in May 2007.[3]
- Retirement of the J# language and Java Language Conversion Assistant from future versions of Visual Studio. The last version, shipping with Visual Studio 2005, will be supported until 2015.
- Calling J# code from .NET 4.0 code would fail unless vjsnativ.dll was pre-loaded.[4]
A link to download Visual J# 2005 Express Edition is no longer available from Microsoft's website; however, the old link which was previously available is still valid.[5]
Visual J# is out of mainstream support but "Visual J# 2.0 Redistributable Second Edition released in 2007, with support continuing through to 2017 (5 years mainstream and 5 years extended support) on EN-US locales."[6]
See also
- IKVM.NET – Free implementation of Java for Mono and .NET Framework
- JavApi – Free implementation of Java API as .NET Framework
References
- ↑ S Prasanna, Microsoft's VJ#.Net is made in India, Express Computer, 29 July 2002 – invalid link !
- ↑ Microsoft Developer Network, Visual J# Product Announcement, 10 January 2007
- ↑ Visual J# 2.0 Second Edition Redistributable Download, Microsoft Download Center
- ↑ Calling J# code from .NET 4.0
- ↑ Visual J# 2005 Express Edition – invalid link !
- ↑ https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/bb188593
External links
- Official website
- Visual J# Design Choices An interview with Pratap Lakshman
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