Welcome to Holon 11

Welcome to HolonJ

This fully functional version of HolonJ is offered for free use.

Installation

Store the Holon files in one common directory.

Holon Files

HOLONJ.EXE is the development environment, the host.

HOLONJ.STR and HOLONJ.TEX contain the source text of the target program.

HOLONHLP.STR and HOLONHLP.TEX contain the online manual.

JMON.CLASS is the HolonJ monitor.

CL.CLASS is a custom classloader used by JMON.

Java Development Kit

HolonJ is used in cooperation with the Java Development Kit. HolonJ works starting with the JDK V1.1. The SDK 2 version 1.2 or later are recommended.

I assume that you have already installed the Java SDK.

Path

Add your HolonJ directory to the PATH statement in AUTOEXEC.BAT

Starting HolonJ

Holon runs under DOS. HOLONJ.EXE looks for the files HOLONJ.STR and HOLONJ.TEX in the working directory.

Starting from the DOS command prompt: Change the current directory to the Holon directory, then run HOLONJ.EXE.

Problems have been reported when starting from the DOS command prompt in Windows NT. Solution: Start Holon from the Explorer.

Starting from Explorer: Click on HOLONJ.EXE, the working directory is set correctly by Explorer.

Starting with an Icon: If you create an icon on the desktop, set up the working directory in the Properties/Program options.

If you see an empty browser and the question: "Create a new application? Y/N", then HOLONJ has not found the program files .STR and .TEX, probably because the working directory is not set to the Holon directory. Press N and restart Holon in a different way.

Operating HolonJ

You see the source text of the target program in a browser, structured into modules, groups, and words. The central panes show the definition and comment of the current word. At the bottom the stack pane is used for interactive testing.

Use the cursor keys to move around in the browser.

Below the stack pane a function key menu is presented.

Press the Ctrl key to see other commands.

More functions are available with the Alt key and the Ctrl+Sft key combination.

Quick Test

The evaluation version of HolonJ contains several sample classes, which represent a demo "application". Usually a module in the browser represents one class.

Press Ctl+F3=LoadAll. This loads (=compiles) all modules and creates class files for all classes of the application.

Open a DOS session, change the directory to the HolonJ directory, and test some classes using the Java interpreter. Syntax: "java Name". The class name is case sensitive; it is used without the extension ".class".

Example: java Hello -- prints the hello text.

Example: java TheFrame -- creates a simple window and some action.

Example: java TicTacToe -- runs the Tic Tac Toe game. The sounds are only working in applets in a browser. They are indicated here by statements in the DOS console.

Using JMON

Open a second DOS window and start JMON with the command "java jmon". JMON is meant to multitask with HolonJ. You may need to set up both DOS windows for free scheduling.

In Win 95/98 set Properties/Misc: Always_suspend=no

Online Manual

Press F1 to enter the online manual, which provides a detailed description of the operation of HolonJ. The manual can be printed. See the chapter Setup, section Printer.

HolonJForth

The syntax of the programming language HolonJForth is described in http://holonforth.com/tools/java/javaforth.htm.

Using HolonJ

See http://holonforth.com/tools/java/usingholonj/usinghj.htm for details and examples of using HolonJ for application development.

No Support

HolonJ is now a free system without support. You find a lot of information both in this distribution and in the web site. I do hope that it is sufficient and useful.

There is a Holonforth mailing list for discussing the design principles of Holon.