Java Guru Advice Required

[OrangeHopper]

Hello People,

As some of you may be aware I have a plan B which involves a bit of Java code. I have used the generics stuff from 5.0 and am delivering 5.0 compiled code in a jar file.

Now, some people might prefer 1.4 compatibility which means I would have to remove the generics stuff.

How do others resolve the possible need to make 5.0 and 1.4 versions available?

Do you tell the client only the latest is available and they need to change their ways; do you provide two jar files appropriately named; do something else I'm not aware off.

For Dim, using .NET is not an option.

[DimPrawn]

Bugger, that's my helpful advice blown out the water.

[swamp]

Java 6 has been out for a while, and 7 will be out next year.

Publish as 5 and if anyone wants 1.4 then create a compatibility version for them.

[sli_gryn]

i'll second swamp's note. generics has been out now long enough for even some investment banks to start using it (a relative guage for uptake, i reckon)

and follow the path of spring and hibernate projects where they've got specific implementations for legacy jvm's but are on a pretty much, only-where-absolutely-needed basis.

[OrangeHopper]

Thanks gents. Much appreciated. Your comments confirm I haven't missed anything and am going in the right direction.

Dim. I did consider getting my java application to produce .NET parsers but every time I had the thought I began to shake uncontrollably.

[xoggoth]

Just as well. .net is tulipe anyway.

[bored]

Also check out Retrotranslator and Retroweaver libraries. They will let you run your Java 5 code on a 1.4 JVM.

[Cowboy Bob]

Retroweaver is what you're looking for.

HTH