Java Emulators

Java is a programming language, not unlike C++, but the main attraction of Java is its portability. The theory goes that a program written in java can be run on any platform at all, including RISC OS. Unsurprisingly many emulators have been written in java to allow them this amazing portability. To run Java programs, you need what is called a Java Virtual Machine (JVM), at the moment Acorn's beta test version is released, but a commercial version called Chockcino is also in development. Programs run under a JVM will be quite slow, which can be a problem for decent emulation, so you have been warned.

The latest JVM available from Sun (the originators of java) is v1.2 currently in alpha release, but v1.1 is well established on other platforms, and many programs are now being written for java 1.1.
Acorn - This currently only supports java 1.0.2 compliant code and was released as beta test software at Acorn World 97 to Clan Members. Later full release versions will probably become available as part of Acorn's (still to be released) RISCafe
Chockcino - As far as I know this is not currently available.
Some software may utilise unique Microsoft Java routines, which are directly trying to devastate the immense java portability - the best attempt so far at a computing esperanto. I personally, feel that anyone who writes software for MS Java has obviously missed the point entirely, and needs to be put out of their misery - but that's just my opinion!

For the moment my information on running these emulators on an Acorn is very sparse, I'd be extremely happy to hear from anyone who can give me reports of how these perform on the Acorn.

Jasper

Jasper is a Spectrum emulator by Adam Davidson and Andrew Pollard, you can click on the thumnail to view a screenshot (JPEG 89Kb) of Jasper running under ANT's Fresco browser (on JVM v1.0.2). As it stands, the Jasper emulator is already fully operational, and there is now a photo of Jasper running on a StrongARM at Acorn World 97 (see Gareth Moore's Acorn World 97 review). It seems to be running Chuckie Egg, though the Christmas 1997 Acorn user said, 'Acorn World visitors were given a classic demonstration of StrongARM Java power, courtesy of a Sinclair Spectrum emulator, written entirely in Java, runnings on Acorn's RISCafe Java Virtual Machine. It was running the Spectrum version of the famous space trading game, Elite, and a level of performance most Spectrum owners would have been satisifed with.'.
Jasper Homepage
Speed Rating: StrongARM

J64

A C64 emulator applet, converted from the authors original C based emulator for the ST and DOS. Unfortunately the emulator is text based only and cannot handle much in the way of games, but it is quite fast in comparison to other java-based emulators.
J64 page

Applelet

An Apple ][ emulator by Steve Hugg.
Applelet Homepage

PDP-8

A PDP-8 emulator by Neal Sample. This has in fact been coded in java script, so I don't know if it will work on any Acorn browser at all, since Java Script and Java applets are 2 very different things.
PDP-8 emulator page

jBaby

An emulator for the world's first stored program computer, the prototype of the Manchester Mark 1, nicknamed Baby.
jBaby Homepage

Pleiads and Pheonix

Muriloq has written emulators for 2 arcade games, Pleids, which is a simple missile defence clone (see screenshot on the left), and Phoenix, a space invaders clone (see screenshot on the right). Both have sound fully emulated, and although they are quite simple games, are quite well done, and the emulator quality is pretty good. I have tested them under Netscape Navigator 3 on the PC, so would be interested to hear from anyone who has had them working on an Acorn.
Phoenix emulator homepage
Pleiads emulator homepage

JavaST

JavaST is an Atari ST emulator, written by David Dawkins, which is still in development.
JavaST Homepage

MSX

An MSX emulator written in Java by Arnon. Unfortunately this MSX emulator uses some methods from java 1.1 and therefore will not work on current versions of Java on the Acorn, though I'm sure this will be rectified in the future.
JavaMSX Homepage
Other jMSX homepage

Virtual ColecoVision

A colecovision emulator which has at present only been tested on IE4 and Netscape Communicator 4, so as to whether or not it works on the Acorn is another matter entirely. If you get it working, please inform me. It is loosely based on Marat Fayzullin's ColEm emulator written in C.
Virtual ColecoVision Homepage

TRS-80

This applet by Joe Ganley, simulates the BASIC model 1 level 2 interpreter in a TRS-80 computer. As such it has no hardware specific functions, and will not run anything more than text based programs designed to run on the TRS80. TRS80 BASIC appears to be very similar to BBC BASIC, so Acorn Users should find it easy to understand, even if this simulator is a little useless :o)
TRS BASIC interpreter homepage

Hob

A java Spectrum emulator.
http://www.engis.co.uk/stuff/hob

JavaInvaders

An 8080 arcade emulator in java.
http://www.davesclassics.com/Java/JavaInvaders/menu.html