NAME

Inline::Java::PerlNatives - Map Java native methods to Perl functions.

SYNOPSIS

use Inline Java => <<'END' ;
   import org.perl.inline.java.* ;

   class Pod_PN extends InlineJavaPerlNatives {
      public Pod_PN() throws InlineJavaException {
      }

      native public String hello() ;
   }
END

package Pod_PN ;
sub hello {
   return "hi!" ;
}

package main ;
my $b = new Pod_PN() ;
print($b->hello() . "\n") ; # prints hi!

DESCRIPTION

WARNING: Inline::Java::PerlNatives is still experimental.

Inline::Java::PerlNatives allows you to define your callbacks as native Java methods that are automatically linked to Perl subroutines. You implement the Perl subroutine directly in the package in which Inline::Java binds your class. You can do this by making your Java code extend the org.perl.inline.java.InlineJavaPerlNatives class.

Note: PerlNatives requires J2SDK version >= 1.4

USING THE org.perl.inline.java.InlineJavaPerlNatives CLASS

Let's revisit an example from the Inline::Java::Callback documentation:

use Inline Java => <<'END' ;
   import java.util.* ;
   import org.perl.inline.java.* ;
   import javax.swing.* ;
   import java.awt.event.* ;

   class Pod_Button_PN extends InlineJavaPerlNatives
                       implements ActionListener {
      public Pod_Button_PN() throws InlineJavaException {
         JFrame frame = new JFrame("Pod_Button") ;
         frame.setSize(100,100) ;
         JButton button = new JButton("Click Me!") ;
         frame.getContentPane().add(button) ;
         button.addActionListener(this) ;
         frame.show() ;
      }

      public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent e){
         button_pressed() ;
      }

      native public void button_pressed() ;
   }
END

package Pod_Button_PN ;
sub button_pressed {
   print('click!' . "\n") ; # prints click!
   $main::b->StopCallbackLoop() ;
}

package main ;
$main::b = new Pod_Button_PN() ;
$main::b->StartCallbackLoop() ;

Extending InlineJavaPerlNatives tells Inline::Java that all native methods declared in that class should be linked to Perl subroutines implemented in the approriate package. You can then call these methods from Java just like regular methods. You can even call them from Perl if they are public.

BUGS AND DEFICIENCIES

Inline::Java::PerlNatives has a few limits that one must be aware of:

1. You cannot declare 2 native methods with the same name in a class (even if they have different signatures).

2. Native methods can have arguments of any type, but they must return either void or an Object (use wrappers like Integer and Double to return primitive types).

3. Even if you do not declare them, InlineJavaException and InlineJavaPerlException exceptions (as well as others) may be thrown from within the native methods

SEE ALSO

Inline::Java, Inline::Java::Callback, Inline::Java::PerlInterpreter.

AUTHOR

Patrick LeBoutillier <patl@cpan.org> is the author of Inline::Java.

COPYRIGHT

Copyright (c) 2001-2004, Patrick LeBoutillier.

All Rights Reserved. This module is free software. It may be used, redistributed and/or modified under the terms of the Perl Artistic License. See http://www.perl.com/perl/misc/Artistic.html for more details.