Terrence Barr's Blog

Alive and kickin': Java on Windows Mobile

Update:

• Here is another option for Java on Windows Mobile: Mysaifu JVM
• As was correctly pointed out I forgot to mention CrE-ME as another option for running Java on Windows CE/Mobile. My oversight. Please find more information on CrE-ME here.

Recently on the Java Champions alias some people were surprised to learn that Java has been available on WIndows Mobile for some time now. Obviously we aren't publicizing that fact enough ;-) so here we go:

The phoneME Advanced project open source repository contains a Java SE 1.4.2-compatible stack running on Windows Mobile. To be precise, it is CDC 1.1.1/FP 1.1.1/PBP 1.1.2/PP 1.1.2 which is the equivalent of Java SE 1.4.2 - including AWT and Applet support. This has been available for some time now (see MR2 announcement) and is being actively developed and improved. The screen shot shows JBenchmark2 running on phoneME Advanced on Windows Mobile 5.

What are people doing with it? Well, Java DB/Apache Derby runs well on phoneME Advanced and Hinkmond Wong, project lead of phoneME Advanced, spoke about it in a podcast last year. But not only can you run Java SE apps on this stack, you also have access to many of the optional Java ME JSRs, such as MIDP, PIM, SVG, and others. So you can also run many off-the-shelf Java ME apps on Windows Mobile.

And, of course, because the code is open sourced under GPLv2 and fully available and buildable from the open source repository you can play with it yourself. In fact, I've been talking about just that at Sun Tech Days and other events for a while (access my presentation here). Or download the binaries and install and run them right away. And, as usual, check the phoneME forums for more information and to ask questions.

I hope that clears it up. Java on Windows Mobile is alive and kickin'

Cheers,

-- Terrence

Comments

• Cool!

  Yet another reason for me to get a Windows Mobile device ASAP :)

  Posted by: ivan_memruk on April 26, 2008 at 12:16 AM

• I'm not a Java ME developer, so as an outsider I'm surprised that Java 5 isn't supported on mobile devices yet. Even more concerning is the very outdated JSR172, which provides RPC web service support. We don't use RPC anymore. AWT instead of Swing? (maybe that's not a big deal). This makes mobile development with Java seem forgotten and outdated. It seems behind .NET. I'm also hesitant to start a new mobile project where the target device is Pocket PC or Windows Mobile, and to use a JVM that is still under development. I'm happy to see that Sun is continuing work on this JVM, and that M2 now runs on Windows. Excellent work! Now lets modernize the JSRs and get with today.

  Posted by: rdelaplante on April 26, 2008 at 08:27 AM

• Hi Terece ...
  Why is phoneME Advanced not implementing AGUI (JSR 209) ? This blocks advanced GUI design. Because, no, AWT is not a solution on Windows Mobile ;-)

  At the end, I ask myself, why is there simply no JavaSE for Windows Mobile ? Today's platform are powerfull enough for it. This is a question to ask to Sun ! Java supposed to be platform independent and usually we expect the platform manufacturer to port Java (see OpenJDK). The problem is that we all known MS will never port OpenJDK to WinCE (WM or CE). There are some opensource effort in this way (port to ARM), but having support from Sun team would definitivelly help them !

  Can anybody at Sun consider a Windows CE port of the JDK ? or at least of AGUI ?
  

  Posted by: bjb on April 26, 2008 at 02:38 PM

• Hello, please tell us why JSR 226 is not available in Advanced now? Do you plan to have phoneME Feature/Advance to be fully compliant with MSA JSRs set?

  Posted by: dmitriy_zaitsev on April 28, 2008 at 03:55 AM

• rdelaplante,

  Thanks for the comments. Couple of points:

  - Java 5 will be supported on the forthcoming FX Mobile platform. More details at JavaOne.
  - 172: Agree. There are new JSRs upcoming regarding web services. The easiest most immediate option is to use the Mobile Ajax library: https://meapplicationdevelopers.dev.java.net/mobileajax.html
  - AWT: Exciting announcements will be made very shortly. Watch my blog ;-)

  -- Terrence

  Posted by: terrencebarr on April 29, 2008 at 01:00 AM

• bjb,

  AGUI and AWT: As I mentioned below there will be exciting announcements in this area very soon. Watch my blog.
  As for full Java SE: This will be implemented with FX Mobile. More details at JavaOne.
  -- Terrence

  Posted by: terrencebarr on April 29, 2008 at 01:04 AM

• dmitriy_zaitsev,

  Actually, we have JSR 226 working on phoneME Advanced for Windows Mobile. But to build it there are some internal dependencies we need to fix - we plan to have it fully buildable in open source soon.
  As for MSA compliance ... we are working on adding more and more JSR support. phoneME Feature MR will be available soon and has additional JSRs available.

  -- Terrence

  Posted by: terrencebarr on April 29, 2008 at 01:07 AM

• Terrence, you leave me puzzled. If you want to inform and help people who need CDC/Personal Profile, it has been alive and kicking for a long time in the form of the CrE-ME Java Virtual Mahcine (download at www.nsicom.com). CrE-ME is also based on Sun's reference code, but has certain CVM technology replaced by NSIcom's micro-kernel. The port was done years ago, and is mature. It really works, and runs hundreds of real-life deployed Mobile Applicaitons on Windows Mobile.

  Posted by: nsicom100 on June 04, 2008 at 02:13 AM

• nsicom,

  You're correct, I apologize for neglecting to mention CrE-ME. The blog was written with open source in mind but phoneME is certainly not the only Java ME platform available for WIindows Mobile. I will update the blog accordingly.

  -- Terrence

  Posted by: terrencebarr on June 04, 2008 at 05:22 AM

• There is already a free open source Java SE for Windows Mobile - it's called Mysaifu JVM, and it uses GNU classpath libraries. It's a work in progress, but it works pretty well. It's in active development - bug reports are usually responded to pretty quickly.

  Posted by: naftoligug on June 17, 2008 at 02:33 PM

• naftoligug,

  Thanks for the pointer! I'll update my blog.

  -- Terrence

  Posted by: terrencebarr on June 20, 2008 at 12:35 AM

• hey terrence. in the opening to this article you state Here is another option for Java on Windows Mobile. where can i find others. mysaifu doesn't work on my phone. also i can't set the options. i currently use jbed3dmod and it works great for gaming except there is no sound. i'm trying to find a program for gaming with sound. thanks.

  Posted by: goodst0ry on August 13, 2008 at 06:15 PM

• goodst0ry,

  I am not an expert on the other stacks besides phoneME Advanced ... I haven't tried My saifu or CrE-ME yet myself so I can't really help much. Sound and media support is generally tricky as it requires tight integration with the native platform. Even phoneME Advanced currently has only very limited sound support.

  -- Terrence

  Posted by: terrencebarr on August 14, 2008 at 12:26 AM

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