Running NOODLLE (Dylan interpreter)

To understand how to run NOODLLE, you must understand a bit about how Java programs can be run. Java programs are either applets or applications. Applets are small Java programs that get run inside of Web browsers, like Netscape Navigator. Because most applets are downloaded from the network and can't be trusted, web browsers usually impose security restrictions on operations applets can perform. Applets aren't allowed to read files from the local disk, nor can they write files to the local disk. Applets are very easy for a user to run, because you just have to visit the right page, and if the page author has done his or her job right, the applet should automatically appear. NOODLLE can be run as an applet by accessing this page with a Java-enabled web browser (we recommend using Netscape). However, when running NOODLLE as an applet, you can't load files directly off your hard drive. Instead you can copy and paste pieces of code into the interpreter for evaluation.

Running NOODLLE as an applet can be cumbersome, because to evaluate very long expressions, you have to copy them from another text editor into NOODLLE to be evaluated. Instead, you can run NOODLLE as an application right off your home computer. To run Noodlle locally you need to download the Noodlle itself (as JAR or ZIP file) and either use some Java-enabled browser (we recommend Netscape) or JRE.

This page also provides some hints on running and using Noodlle.

Using JAR file

Note: Using JAR file is faster, but you can use it only with JRE or Netscape Communicator. You can not use JAR file under Netscape 3.x

1. Get Dylan.jar file
2. Get init.dyl file.
3. Create an html file to run Noodlle in Netscape, or download jre1.1.3 (see below)

Using ZIP file

1. Download Noodlle.zip
2. Save the file to disk.
3. Unzip it in its own directory using Winzip or an equivalent program.
4. Create an html file to run Noodlle in Netscape, or download jre1.1.3 (see below)

Running Noodlle in Netscape

1. If you do not have Netscape installed on your computer, go and download it.
2. If you are using JAR file:
   • Save this text file into the same directory where you've save the JAR file. Save it as an html document, not a text document.
3. If you are using ZIP file:
   • Save this text file into the Noodlle directory you created in step 2 above. Save it as an html document, not a text document.
4. In the file you just saved change the line that says "< param name=init value=..." so that the value is the location of init.dyl (included in ZIP file) on your hard drive. You need to rewrite the path replacing \ with / and prepending file:///.
   Example:   value="file:///C:/Noodlle/init.dyl"
5. You may also want to change width= and height= parameters to get different window size.
6. Load the file into Netscape.

Running Noodlle with JRE

1. Go to Sun's web site and download the Java Runtime Environment for your system. It is located under 'Downloads".
2. Install JRE according to the directions.
3. To start Noodlle, run:
   • If you are using JAR file:

      jre -classpath C:\Noodlle\Dylan.JAR Dylan "file:///C:/Noodlle/init.dyl"

   • If you are using ZIP file:

      jre -classpath C:\Noodlle Dylan "file:///C:/Noodlle/init.dyl"

4. Hint: if you are working under Windows NT/95 and you do not want to type this long command each time, you can:
   1. Use Find File to located jrew.exe, and make a shortcut to it.
   2. Right click on the shortcut and select 'Properties'
   3. Select the tab called 'Shortcut'
   4. Type the Noodlle directory into the box by 'Start in'
   5. At the end of the text in 'Target' type in the following information:
      • If you are using JAR file: :

         -classpath C:\Noodlle\Dylan.JAR Dylan "file:///C:/Noodlle/init.dyl"

        where C:\Noodlle is the location of your Noodlle files.

      • If you are using ZIP file:

         -classpath C:\Noodlle Dylan "file:///C:/Noodlle/init.dyl"

        where C:\Noodlle is the location of your Noodlle files.

   6. Now you only need to double-click on the shortcut to start Noodlle.

Hints

• In most cases you may use Ctrl-E instead of pushing "Eval" button.
• Instead of typing programs in Dylan you may type them into a file and load that file using (load "URL") . You need to convert local file names into URLs in the same way as for init.dyl file (above). It is possible that it would not work because of Netscape's security restrictions.
• Put the program you are writing in the Noodlle directory. Suppose that your Noodlle directory is C:\Noodlle and your program file is called my.dyl. Define a function:

  (define (ldmy <function>) 
     (method () (load "file:///C:/Noodlle/my.dyl")))

  Then you can (re-)load and run your program just by evaluating (ldmy)

• See also: printing the contents of Noodlle Graphics Console
• See also: Dylan programming tips
• See also: Noodlle Troubleshooting page

Last updated 01/19/00 11:36 PM