News

  • Home > News

        SWT comes to Windows CE

        Doug | Date: Feb 22, 2006 | Comments: 1


        Aonix has released a version of the Eclipse Standard Widget Toolkit (SWT) graphics package for its PERC Java virtual machine (JVM) for real-time embedded environments including Windows CE. Java-based SWT is designed to be as close to the native environment as possible, making it ideal for embedded applications, Aonix...

        claims.

        (Click here for larger image of PEG+ widgets)

        The Eclipse.org website describes SWT as "the software component that delivers native widget functionality for the Eclipse platform in an operating system independent manner. It is analogous to AWT/Swing in Java with a difference -- SWT uses a rich set of native widgets." (Further information on AWT is here, and on Swing is here)

        The Aonix Eclipse SWT is available for embedded Java targets that support the PEG+ (Portable Embedded GUI) engine from Swell Software. PEG+ boasts compact code size and full RTOS integration, while providing a rich set of graphics and media controls similar to that of desktop windowing systems. according to Aonix.

        Aonix says it combined the standardized SWT library classes from Eclipse.org with the "highly efficient" PEG+ libraries through a dual-layer interface. A portability layer written in Java, located on top of the stack, provides rapid porting to all PERC VM targets, according to the company. The second component, between the PERC VM and the PEG+ library, is a native porting layer. The entire stack operates on top of the PEG+ screen driver and Windows CE (or other embedded OS) environment.

        "Bringing together SWT and PEG+ is an exciting development for Java developers that will help drive them deeper into embedded and real-time applications," said Dave Wood, PERC product manager at Aonix. "The combination of the standardized SWT interface with PEG+ is ideal for embedded development. SWT makes applications highly portable, while PEG+ is designed for compact size and efficient operation demanded by embedded applications."

        About PERC

        Aonix describes its PERC JVM as a "clean-room" virtual machine that targets demanding embedded and real-time systems requiring J2SE support. According to Aonix, PERC offers the ease and efficiency of Java Standard Edition (JSE) without sacrificing integrity, performance, or real-time behavior. Key features include ahead-of-time (AOT) and just-in-time (JIT) compilation, remote debug support, deterministic garbage collection, standard graphics, and support for multiple real-time operating systems.

        Availability

        SWT integration for PEG+ is currently available for PowerPC, x86, and ARM processors, according to Aonix. Supported operating systems include Windows CE, QNX, LynxOS, OSE, and Linux.


        Related stories: