Hi Andreas
Given that most of Synapse's code is still Java 1.4, what are actually
the Java 5 language features or APIs Synapse relies on?
Mostly, it is the NIO based http*s* transport as the SSLEngine class was
only introduced in JDK 1.5.x.. but we had this debate sometime back on
Synapse, and I do not think the issue of the JDK used by Synapse will
effect any of the systems it will integrate it at all - i.e. you could
use JDK 1.5 for Synapse on a machine, and simultaneously use a JDK 1.4
version for another app.. or use VMWare etc like many do even on
production systems etc..
Since I'm working in the same environment I'm facing the same
restriction with another Open Source library, and I had a look into
retrotranslation tools that convert Java 5 bytecode to Java 1.4
compatible bytecode. Retrotranslator
(http://retrotranslator.sourceforge.net/) seems very promising because
it not only covers all Java 5 language features but also important
parts of the Java 5 APIs. Did anybody already study the question if it
would be possible to run Synapse on Java 1.4 with the help of this
kind of tool?
I am totally cool with someone volunteering to do this, and keep
supporting this - however I think we should also support JDK 1.6 pretty
soon as many people use that already and one of the core issues is
supporting the script mediator in this environment.. So as long as we
can code in JDK 1.5, or 1.6 etc and stuff like retrotranslator will keep
the backwards compatibility things should be fine :)
asankha
