Re: [java-gnome-hackers] a possible merge strategy

[Stefan P. <st...@pr...>]

Hi Colin,

Am Donnerstag, den 16.10.2008, 12:14 -0400 schrieb Colin Walters:
> > Unless we find a way to build on the same code
> > generator and hopefully GObject foundations, both APIs would have
> > nothing in common.
> 
> The code generator and GObject foundations are related but can be
> separated.  I think if we shared a GObject layer it would be a huge
> win.  The only major difference is a dependency on JNA.  Would that be
> acceptable to java-gnome?

Honestly I don't know because I am not aware of the consequences to the
whole project. But from what I understand it is not using a bit of JNA
alongside with JNI in the GObject layer - it is either JNA or JNI. So I
guess we are not talking about merging but replacing the GObject layer.

I still don't understand our GObject layer and I avoid digging to deep
in there, so I am not sure what the consequences would be. But I imagine
that it really takes careful planning and a lot of testing, so this
might be a long time goal.

A short time goal could be to use GIR to replace the .def files we are
currently using and write a code generator that for startes builds code
suitable for our GObject layer.

I can imagine that since you already adopted the gstreamer-java object
layer you are not very happy about thinking about a different one.

So I see two ways how we could proceed here:
1. You could contribute by putting our GLib/GObject layer on a GIR
   foundation and provide a code generator that produces code like
   our current code generator would. This would be a help we all would
   appreciate.

2. You stick to the idea of your object layer in which case you would 
   need to find out what adjustments would need to be done to our 
   current GObject layer, generated code or public API. I am a bit
   reluctant here since this would render lots of effort from recent
   years obsolete without a real need, but perhaps the result would
   convince me. But until that I guess you would work mostly alone here
   (with help on your questions of course).

But these a only my 2 cents and since my focus is on public API and
coverage it would be good if the people knowing the GObject code and
code generator would comment here.

Stefan