Why isn't LimeWire X using Java 1.4?
 

This is briefly noted in the sticky topic about running Software Update, but there was no discussion, so I'm making a separate topic.

LimeWire X (this is as of version 2.9.9) does not use the new Java 1.4.1 virtual machine which Apple released about two months ago. It is ridiculously easy for developers to "throw the switch" and make OS X Java apps use the new VM instead of the old one. LimeWire currently uses the 1.3.1 engine; the very same engine that came with Mac OS X 10.0!

I know that performance on my G4/450 is bogged down significantly when LimeWire is running. I also know that Apple has made huge strides in performance as of the new VM, including enabling Quartz Extreme for Swing-based Java apps (like LimeWire). My suspicion is that with about fifteen minutes of work, and without breaking anything, the LimeWire developers could vastly improve the performance of the Mac OS X version.

So does anyone have any idea why they haven't done this yet?

-Jake

it's easy, but not rediculously easy. :)

we think we have all the kinks worked out, so the switch should be thrown relatively soon ...

Yeah, I guess I can see how something as complex as LimeWire might be a bit more complicated to convert than the simple Java apps I've written.

Looking forward to the switch!

-Jake

Wow, a fellow Michigander! And Grand Rapids ta boot.

So where abouts in GR? I'm actually on the boarder between Wyoming and Grandville, near the new(ish) mall.

Northeast side -- Leonard and East Beltline. But right now I'm in Flint at Kettering University; I'll be back in July.

-Jake