View source for Visual J Sharp

{{Short description|Programming language}}
{{Distinguish|text=[[J (programming language)|J]] or [[Visual J++]]}}
{{Infobox programming language
| name = Visual J#
| logo = 
| file_ext = 
| paradigm = [[Object-oriented programming|Object-oriented]], [[structured programming|structured]], [[imperative programming|imperative]]
| year = {{Start date and age|2002|07|01}}
| designer = 
| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| discontinued = yes
| ver layout = <!-- simple (default) or stacked -->
| latest_release_version = v2.0 Second Edition
| latest_release_date = {{Start date and age|2007|05|18|df=yes}}
| latest_test_version = 
| latest_test_date = 
| typing = 
| implementations = 
| dialects = 
| influenced_by = [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=New and Upgraded Features in Visual Studio .NET 2003|url=https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/archive/msdn-magazine/2003/march/new-and-upgraded-features-in-visual-studio-net-2003|date=22 October 2019|publisher=Microsoft Learn|website=learn.microsoft.com}}</ref> [[Java (programming language)|Java]] and [[Visual J++]]
| influenced = 
| platform = [[.NET Framework]]
| license = 
| website = 
| wikibooks = 
}}
{{Correct title|title=Visual J#}}

'''Visual J#''' (pronounced "jay-[[sharp (music)|sharp]]") is a discontinued implementation of the J# [[programming language]] that was a transitional language for programmers of [[Java (programming language)|Java]] and [[Visual J++]] languages, so they could use their existing knowledge and applications with the [[.NET Framework]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/bb188593|title=Visual J# Home|website=msdn.microsoft.com|language=en|access-date=2017-03-24}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vjsharp/aa700852.aspx |title=Java to .NET Framework Migration Workshop: Free Online Training |date=30 April 2007 |access-date=2020-01-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080423005729/http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vjsharp/aa700852.aspx |archive-date=2008-04-23 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref> It was introduced in 2002<ref>Microsoft News, [https://news.microsoft.com/2002/07/01/microsoft-rounds-out-developer-languages-with-launch-of-visual-j-net/], 1 July 2002</ref> and discontinued in 2007, with support for the final release of the product continuing until October 2017.

J# worked with [[Java bytecode]] as well as source so it could be used to transition applications that used third-party [[Library (computer science)|libraries]], even if their original [[source code]] was unavailable.{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}} It was developed by the [[Hyderabad, Telangana|Hyderabad]]-based [[HITEC City#Microsoft Hyderabad Campus|Microsoft India Development Center at HITEC City]] in India.<ref>S Prasanna, [http://www.expresscomputeronline.com/20020729/indnews3.shtml Microsoft's VJ#.Net is made in India], ''Express Computer'', 29 July 2002 {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131128170355/http://computer.financialexpress.com/20020729/indnews3.shtml |date=28 November 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=The Hindu Business Line : Microsoft lines up big plans for Hyderabad centre|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/bline/2002/08/15/stories/2002081500530700.htm|work=www.thehindubusinessline.com}}</ref>

The implementation of Java in [[Visual J++]], MSJVM, did not pass [[Sun Microsystems|Sun]]'s compliance tests leading to a lawsuit from Sun, Java's creator, and creation of J#. Microsoft ceased such support for the MSJVM on December 31, 2007 (later Oracle bought Sun, and with it Java and its trademarks). Microsoft however, officially started distributing Java again in 2021 (though not bundled with Windows or its web browsers as before with J++), i.e. their build of Oracle's OpenJDK,<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-05-25|title=Announcing General Availability of Microsoft Build of OpenJDK|url=https://devblogs.microsoft.com/java/announcing-general-availability-of-microsoft-build-of-openjdk/|access-date=2021-08-03|website=Java at Microsoft|language=en-US}}</ref> which Microsoft plans to support for at least 6 years, for LTS versions, i.e. to September 2027 for Java 17.

==Fundamental differences between J# and Java==
Java and J# use the same general syntax but there are non-Java conventions in J# to support the .NET environment. For example, to use .NET "properties" with a standard [[JavaBean]] class, it is necessary to prefix getter and setter methods with the [[Javadoc]]-like annotation:

<syntaxhighlight lang="java">/** @beanproperty */</syntaxhighlight>

...and change the corresponding private variable name to be different from the suffix of the getXxx/setXxx names{{Citation needed|date=February 2017}}.

J# does not compile Java-language source code to Java bytecode (.class files), and does not support [[Java applet]] development or the ability to host applets directly in a [[web browser]], although it does provide a wrapper called Microsoft J# Browser Controls for hosting them as [[ActiveX]] objects. Finally, [[Java Native Interface]] (JNI) and [[Java Native Interface#Microsoft.27s RNI|raw native interface]] (RNI) are substituted with [[Platform Invocation Services|P/Invoke]]; J# does not support [[remote method invocation]] (RMI).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/7622y256(v=vs.80).aspx|title=Visual J# Migration|department=[[Visual Studio 2005]]|work=[[MSDN Library]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316061217/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/7622y256(v=vs.80).aspx|archive-date=2012-03-16|access-date=2021-12-25}}</ref>

''[[InfoWorld]]'' said: "J#'s interface to the .NET framework is solid, but not as seamless as [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]]. In particular, J# code cannot define new .NET attributes, events, value types, or delegates. J# can make use of these language constructs if they are defined in an assembly written in another language, but its inability to define new ones limits J#'s reach and interoperability compared to other .NET languages."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Yager |first1=Tom |date=2001-11-21 |df=dmy |url=https://www.infoworld.com/article/2075819/just-don-t-call-j--java.html |title=Just don't call J# Java |work=[[InfoWorld]] |access-date=2020-07-20}}</ref>

Contrariwise, Microsoft documentation for Visual Studio 2005 details the definition of .NET delegates,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/0kks3c36(v=vs.80).aspx |title=delegate (Visual J#) |department=[[Visual Studio 2005]] |work=[[MSDN Library]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219230625/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/0kks3c36(v=VS.80).aspx |archive-date=2011-12-19}}</ref> events,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/09b0135h(v=vs.80).aspx |title=Definition and Use of Events |department=[[Visual Studio 2005]] |work=[[MSDN Library]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111219230625/https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/09b0135h(v=vs.80).aspx |archive-date=2011-12-19}}</ref> and value types<ref>{{cite web |url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/wysdab55(v=vs.80).aspx |title=User-Defined Value Types |department=[[Visual Studio 2005]] |work=[[MSDN Library]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111220004451/http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-US/library/wysdab55(v=VS.80).aspx |archive-date=2011-12-20}}</ref> directly in J#.

Like C# and unlike Java, J# is able to use the [[C preprocessor]] directives.

==History of J#==
In January 2007, Microsoft announced:<ref>Microsoft Developer Network, [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vjsharp/ Visual J# Product Announcement], 10 January 2007</ref>

* That Microsoft would produce an updated version of Visual J# 2.0, including a [[64-bit computing|64-bit]] [[freely redistributable software|redistributable]] version, called J# 2.0 Second Edition to meet customer demand for 64-bit runtime support. Microsoft released Visual J# 2.0 Second Edition in May 2007.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=42C46554-5313-4348-BF81-9BB133518945&displaylang=en |title=Visual J# 2.0 Second Edition Redistributable Download |website=[[Microsoft]] |access-date=2010-04-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070523221606/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=42C46554-5313-4348-BF81-9BB133518945&displaylang=en |archive-date=2007-05-23 |url-status=bot: unknown }}</ref>
* Retirement of the J# language and Java Language Conversion Assistant from future versions of ''[[Visual Studio]]''. The last version, shipping with Visual Studio 2005, was supported until 2015.
* Calling J# code from .NET 4.0 code would fail unless vjsnativ.dll was pre-loaded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.windwardreports.com/davidt/2011/02/calling-j-code-from-net-40.html|title=Calling J# code from .NET 4.0 - Windward Wrocks|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref>

The download of Visual J# 2005 Express Edition is no longer available from Microsoft's website.

Visual J# is out of support including the Visual J# 2.0 Redistributable Second Edition released in 2007, that was supported through to 2017 "(5 years mainstream and 5 years extended support) on EN-US locales."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/bb188593|title=Visual J# Home|access-date=6 March 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/visualstudio/2017/04/10/end-of-support-for-visual-studio-2008-in-one-year/|title=End of Support for Visual Studio 2008 – in One Year|access-date=2017-04-11|language=en-US}}</ref>

== Example ==
The following is a simple example of Visual J#.
<syntaxhighlight lang="java">
package Wikipedia.Examples;

import System.*;
import System.ComponentModel.Container;
import System.Drawing.Point;
import System.Drawing.Size;
import System.Windows.Forms.Application;
import System.Windows.Forms.Button;
import System.Windows.Forms.Form;
import System.Windows.Forms.Label;
import System.Windows.Forms.TextBox;

public class HelloWorld extends Form {
    private TextBox textBox;
    private Button button;
    private Label label;

    private Container components = null;

    public HelloWorld() {
        InitializeComponent();
    }

    protected void Dispose(boolean disposing) {
        if (disposing) {
            components.Dispose();
        }
        super.Dispose(disposing);
    }

    private void onClick(Object sender, EventArgs e) {
        label.set_Text(String.Format("Inputted text: {0}", textBox.get_Text());
    }

    #region Windows Form Designer generated code
    private void InitializeComponent() {
        this.textBox = new TextBox();
        this.button = new Button();
        this.label = new Label();
        this.SuspendLayout();

        // initialise text box
        textBox.set_Location(new Point(50, 30));
        textBox.set_Name("Hello world!");
        textBox.set_Size(new Size(120, 20));

        // initialise button
        button.set_Location(new Point(50, 60));
        button.set_Name("button");
        button.set_Text("Click me!");
        button.add_Click(new EventHandler(this.onClick));

        // initialise label
        label.set_Location(new Point(50, 90));
        label.set_Name("label");
        label.set_Size(new Size(200, 20));

        // initialise form
        set_AutoScaleBaseSize(new Size(6, 15));
        set_ClientSize(new Size(220, 140));
        get_Controls().Add(textBox);
        get_Controls().Add(button);
        get_Controls().Add(label);
        set_Name("form");
        set_Text("Hello, world!");
        ResumeLayout(false);
    }
    #endregion

    /** @attribute System.STAThread() */
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        Application.Run(new HelloWorld());
    }
}
</syntaxhighlight>

==See also==
* [[IKVM]]{{snd}} a free implementation of Java for [[Mono (software)|Mono]] and [[.NET Framework]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080226122937/http://msdn2.microsoft.com:80/en-us/vjsharp/default.aspx|date=February 26, 2008|title=Official website}}
* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070416013526/http://msdn2.microsoft.com:80/en-us/vjsharp/bb188610.aspx|date=2007-04-16|title=Visual J# Design Choices: A Conversation with Pratap Lakshman}}

{{.NET Framework}}
{{Common Language Infrastructure}}
{{Microsoft development tools}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:.NET programming languages]]
[[Category:2002 software]]
[[Category:Java development tools]]
[[Category:Java programming language family]]
[[Category:Microsoft programming languages]]
[[Category:Microsoft Visual Studio|J#]]
[[Category:Discontinued Microsoft development tools]]