JARS Resource Listings

| Java Resources ( 4314 ) | ActiveX Resources ( 24 ) | JavaScript Resources ( 134 ) |
| VRML Resources ( 60 ) | PERL Resources ( 24 ) | Other Resources ( 23 ) |


JARS Judges Showcase:

JARS Judge's Pick


by Alex 'Kazuma' Garbagnati
Sep 6, 1996

ChessLive!: http://oasi.shiny.it/chess/inde x.html

Since I first took a look at this applet I have considered it really a good one. It did not hurt that the author was an italian guy, just like me, I realized it was not only a simple multiuser chess game, but a really cool and complete environment, using in a very complete way all the capabilities of the Java language, particular attention was given to the graphics, threads and networking sides.

The applet uses a very cool presentation style, that offers a very nice chessboard display, known as "ChessLive!". Loading time/speed is relatively normal and the communication with the server seems quite good. After logging in, the user can choose to play a game against any other user that maybe connected, watch the games of others that are currently being played or restore and continue a previous saved game. This is one of the best and more interesting features of "ChessLive!". Often, in fact, a chess game can take a very long time (in particular when both players are good) and it is not easy/possible to stay on-line for such lengthy periods of time. So, when players must leave, the game can be saved, to be continued later. Another cool feature is the player rating. Every game is saved and rated, so every the user can know his level of play.

But the internet makes for a much more public meeting place. So "ChessLive!" allows one to "meet people": ChessLive!'s public chat feature lets all the users, that are connected, launch challenges or simply discuss issues regarding a live game. There are also smaller "private" chats, limited only to the two players of a game, this is fun, and allows one to meet and enjoy others on the net.

This applet seems to use Java in a very heavy way. The source is not available, but the features of "ChessLive!" lets one know that most of the language has been well used. The applet is fast, and the refresh rate is good, this also on small video.

Finally i would like to suggest to every webmaster that wants to set up an "arcade" site or pages with games to take a look at this applet and... find a place at their site to put it !

JARS Judge's Pick


by Ronald Demon
July 23, 1996

Virtual Open 96: http://www.999.com/golf/indexe.html

Since Java's inception, many have created entertainment applets that had unique features such a networkablity. The notion of playing a "true" game from you browser is slowly but surely gaining acceptation. The applet I chose for the Judge's Pick this week shows the potential of the graphics side of Java.

Virtual Open '96 is novel in its combination of pseudo 3D graphics with a good-looking 2D interface. Although the notion of golf-simulation is pretty old, Virtual Open '96's interface is nifty. GIFs are used very effectively in this applet as the user can intuitive access various controls. One downside is that the animation of the guy swinging the club is pretty blas‚. Although it may initially seem like a good idea, it gets' pretty boring after a while. One interesting thing is the is of 3D polygons. You can change your view by pressing certain arrows. The applet also allows you to select from multiple view points (i.e. ball, player, etc.). You can actually take the viewpoint of the golf ball while it is traveling! The game also allows the use to select various golf clubs and balls. I'm not sure how accurate the simulation is with these additional factors.

Overall this is a pretty good applet considering its quick load time and performance. The company who made this applet also sponsors a "Virtual Competition" so users around the world can compete for actual prizes.

JARS Judge's Pick


by Bill Giel
May 20, 1996

Newslet: http://newslet.earthweb.com/

Deciding on one of the many great applets that we review at JARS for the "Judges Pick" is a tough choice! But my choice for this honor goes to Dennis Cronin’s Newslet applet.

This applet provides a BBS or usenet-style interface for exchanging messages. Newslet is easy to use, fast and very useful to web page owners wanting to provide a interactive message forum, but who do not have the server privileges or resources to do so. That’s because Newslet is not only a free applet, but comes with sufficient server space (courtesy of the author and Central Data Corporation) to maintain a small message group, free of charge!

The Newslet site is the source for extensive documentation on setting this applet up (Don’t worry, it’s easy!) with complete details on the various configurable options. And if you are concerned about excluding Java-challenged surfers from the message group, worry not. Author Cronin has even provided a more conventional HTML interface that is invoked when a Java- incapable browser hits the page.

Having used Newslet at the JARS judges forum, I’ve found it to be reliable, friendly and useful… a perfect applet!. If you maintain a small, specialty web page, Newslet may be the perfect addition to your site.

JARS Judge's Pick


by Rodney Ryan
April 22, 1996

Text Editor: http://www.surinam.net/java/anil/texteditor/textedit.html

I was impressed when I first saw this Java applet in Netscape. I was more impressed when I downloaded the source, compiled it, and it ran as a stand-alone without alterations (obviously you should never do this without first checking the source carefully to make sure you understand what it does). Lastly, I was also impressed when I perused the source code. Here, it is obvious the developer knew what he was doing - and did it very well indeed.

You can edit simple text files using the applet/application. Provided is a file location/URL input line, a simple button-based toolbar, some controls to specify font, size, and style, and the text area itself.

This applet/application shows the power and robustness of Java clearly. I noticed five specific areas while playing around with the applet/application (let's just call it an "appletation") and the source code that I would like to point out:

Files: Provides support for reading and writing files to local drives.

URL's: You can open, edit, and save remote files via URL's as well as local files - you can also point the browser that's running the applet to a specific URL.

Layout Managers: Anyone that has typed the words "GridBagConstraints" knows the pain. This appletation uses GridBag, Flow, and Border layout to keep the interface always looking balanced and even.

Applet/Frame Combination: The appletation will run as an Applet in a browser or as an application without altering the source.

Toolkit: If you don't know about the Toolkit class you do now. When the appletation is running as a stand-alone it uses the Toolkit.getImage() method in place of Applet.getImage().

FileDialog class: Uses an instance of the FileDialog class to provide the default system interface for file selection.

Menus: Good demonstration of using the MenuComponent subclasses to provide menu support, and shows how to respond properly to menu choices.

This appletation is an excellent demonstration of some of the more useful capabilities of Java, and most anyone will learn a trick or two by persuing the source code.

TIP: Load the Text Editor. Enter "http://www.surinam.net/java/anil/texteditor/TextEdit.java" in the URL line and press the "Read from URL" button. You then can easily peruse the source of the appletation.

JARS Judge's Pick


by Alessandro 'Kazuma' Garbagnati
April 3, 1996

CodeColorizer: http://www.chamisplace.com/prog/cc/

When I first saw this page I said: "Wow ... an excellent idea !". Finally I've found an intelligent utility, really useful to all of the developer's community on the Web, and I don't mean only Java.

With CodeColorizer you can "paint" your source code making it more readable. In addition, if you wish to publish the colorized source code in your web pages, you can use the option that generates an HTML file. Actually this utility is still in a the beta stages and supports Java, C/C++ and Clipper, but the author will add more languages as may be needed.

Personally I consider this utility not only a programming tool. CodeColorizer is something more. It is a "teaching" tool, created for all the developers that want to share their information, it enables the displaying of source codes in an easier to to understand and visually conceive manner.

JARS Judge's Pick


by Edd Dumbill
March 5, 1996

Travelling Salesman Solution: http://nuweb.jinr.dubna.su/~filipova/tsp.html

I love the idea of Java being used for interactive learning, and this illustration of the well-known combinatoral optimisation problem is a good, clean example of an applet which aids learning. The interface is well laid out and simple, and the graphics are uncluttered and clear, as well as being smooth.

While not as technically deep as some applets, the motivation behind this applet is what I find commendable. I can't wait for more illustrations of TSP algorithms (incidentally, the actual algorithm as well as the applet is of considerable interest).

This applet was rated a Top 25% applet by JARS.

JARS Judge's Pick


by R.E. Fikki
Feb. 12, 1996

The Tick TOCk Java applet by Ian Leicht is a quality applet, which allows the user to navigate a web site. You are first presented with the option of clicking on the TOC button. Once this option is chosen the user is prompted by an independent popup Java interface to select a general area for perusing at the site. You are given the option to choose amongst 4 or 5 general categories. A second popup but more detailed independent window appears which allows one to choose a more specific HTML page for viewing. Areas of improvement could be adding some color or graphics to the "Jump to URL" and "Search Title" buttons. There seemed to be a problem when one intentionally closes the first pop-up screen, one cannot continue without leaving the page and reloading. This could be a Netscape bug:-).

This applet seems to possess all the basics, with a few new bells and whistles it could be a very popular and widely used setup. This applet is yet to be Rated by JARS.

JARS Judge's Pick


by Rehan Zaidi
Feb. 5, 1996

The CyberAgent applet by Dale Gass is set up as a search/look-up engine for online real estate information. A swinging realty sign welcomes the user while configurable fields are presented to select options (criteria) for finding the perfect house.

The applet is a great tool for presenting this type of information; the page is well-designed and visually appealing to users. The demonstration includes a small database of houses with some floorplans and photographs, and a handy mortgage calculator to help plan your payments.

CyberAgent was rated as a Top 1% Web Applet by JARS.

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