Organic Builder in javascript?

[Tim Hutton]

I'm wondering whether I should port OB to javascript. Using GWT we can
keep the code in Java but have it compile to browser-robust
javascript.

Here's a small test I made that illustrates the possibility:

http://www.sq3.org.uk/Evolution/Squirm3/OrganicBuilder/ob_js/OB.html

Notice that since it's just moving around images and text, you can
select the atom labels just like any other web page text! It seems to
be faster in IE than firefox.

Pro:
- more people would be able to use it, since they don't need the Java
runtime. I don't know how much of an issue this has been - thoughts?
- should be quicker to start up, without the JRE overhead.

Con:
- some visual effects won't be easily available - the bonds between
atoms seems to be the only problem at the moment.
- might be slower, will have to test this.
- some people might have javascript turned off by default, and IE may
alert for possible security dangers - let me know your experience with
this.
- effort involved in porting the java code over to GWT

In other news, the challenges have been solved over 4000 times!

Tim

[Bertrand Dechoux]

A few thoughts :

Pro :
* It would (theorically) allow more people to use it. (I am not sure
about that, need to check stats.)

If the simulation is small enough the fact that this is javascript
won't be a major drawback. (However for bigger simulation, the
application will be indeed slower.)

I was wondering if C# (Microsoft Java-clone) could be used to speed
up the application, but as far as I know it won't help that much.

(Java application can compiled to native windows application (*.exe)
but I don't know if this could be usefull...)

[Bertrand Dechoux]

One solution for graphics would be to use the SVG technologie.
It is now possible using Batik, and will be supported natively by
browser such as Firefox and Internet Explorer.