WebObjects 3.5.1 Java FAQ

With WebObjects version 3.5.1, WebObjects applications can be written in Sun's Java programming language.  This document attempts to answer some of the commonly asked questions about the Java features of WebObjects.

Q: What JDK version is used in WebObjects 3.5.1?

A: WebObjects 3.5.1 uses Sun's 1.1.3 JDK.  This is the only version officially supported by Apple.

Q: Can I use a different Java version?

A: You may be able to run later versions of Java by simply pointing the JDK environment variable to the new version and modifying your JavaConfig.plist file; however, Apple will not provide support for any version of Java other than the one which shipped with WebObjects 3.5.1.  Because WebObjects is designed to work with Sun's Java VM, Microsoft's Java VM will not work with WebObjects.

Q: Does Apple support Just-in-Time (JIT) compilation with WebObjects 3.5.1?

A: JIT functionality is not available in this release of WebObjects.  WebObjects applications spend much of their time running compiled framework code; the speed benefits of this approach are greater than would be seen with JIT-compiled Java code.

Q: How do I debug Java code in ProjectBuilder?

A: There is no Java debugger included in the version of ProjectBuilder that ships with WebObjects 3.5.1. Java debugging tools are planned for future releases of WebObjects, but Apple cannot yet commit to including this feature in any specific release.  However, WebObjects 3.5.1 does provide some statements to help you fix your Java code: the logString and trace: methods.  With these methods and Java's System.out.println method, you can perform basic debugging tasks.  See the Debugging a WebObjects Application section of the WebObjects Developer's Guide (included with your on-line documentation) for more information on logString and trace:.