For a long time now, we've avoided using the benefits first offered by Java 6 in Ardor3D. For the most part, they were small things... a useful method here and there. We stayed with version 5 partially because 6 was still fairly new and there were certain platforms (Mac, I'm looking at you) where it was a challenge to get a working copy.
Java 6 has now been out on Windows and Linux for over three years and has been available on OSX in 64 bit form for about two. 32 bit Mac owners were officially left out in the cold (unless they went out and installed soylatte) until the recent release of OSX "Snow Leopard" (confirmed). Stats show version 6 as the default on about two thirds of machines, with version 5 coming in at about 14%.
A recent programming task had us looking longingly at yet another Java 6 feature (this time, scripting support) and thinking maybe it's finally time Ardor3D moved its min spec to the much more performant Java 6. After looking around and gathering the above numbers, I think it is.
Agree? Have a different take? Give a shout here or on the forums and tell us what you think.
2 comments:
good news :)
I actually wish it was a better idea than what it is, so to speak (re. %). But in the actual targetgroup I think that the percentage that actually have java 6 is higher than the stats you read, and rather acceptable. Thinking about switching myself, if nothing else than to force gamers to java 6 ;)
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