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Java-Based x86 Emulator

Posted by kdawson on from the DOS-you-say dept.

jaavaaguru writes "Researchers at Oxford University have produced a Java-based x86 emulator that they hope will be useful in testing applications and learning about viruses without damaging the host, utilizing the robust sandboxing that Java provides. They have an online demo available that boots DOS and has some games to play. Being purely Java, this emulator should be able to run on almost anything, including cell phones." The code is not yet available outside the Oxford community; the developers are said to be working on a suitable general license. In the meantime the code can be licensed on a case-by-case basis.

15 of 263 comments (clear)

  1. Interesting, but by dreamchaser · · Score: 5, Funny

    I can only imagine that this will make even Bochs look fast in comparison!

    Still, I'd love to tinker with this from a 'gee whiz' standpoint.

    1. Re:Interesting, but by shaitand · · Score: 5, Funny

      'Java is capable of runtime optimisations not possible with statically compiled languages like C++.'

      And with them it can perform almost as fast as C in some fringe cases.

    2. Re:Interesting, but by ConceptJunkie · · Score: 2, Funny

      Ridiculous! Java can perform NOPs as fast as any compiled language.

      --
      You are in a maze of twisty little passages, all alike.
  2. So... by mriya3 · · Score: 5, Funny

    ... now we should say: "x86 assembler: write once, run everywhere (slow as molasses in January)" ?

  3. Java x86 emulator speed by christurkel · · Score: 4, Funny

    Java only: snail speed
    Java+DOS: Snail with ball and chain
    Java+DOS on non x86: Snail nailed to the table

    --

    CDE open sourced! https://sourceforge.net/projects/cdesktopenv/
  4. So it runs DOS eh? by ookabooka · · Score: 4, Funny

    But can it run Linux. . .?

    Why did they use Java? It would have been faster in C++.

    I for one welcome our new old x86 overlords.

    Did I miss any?

    --
    If you are about to mod me down, keep in mind that this post was most likely sarcastic.
    1. Re:So it runs DOS eh? by HoosierPeschke · · Score: 4, Funny

      In Soviet Russia x86 emulates Java?

      --
      Mr. Universe: "They can't stop the signal, Mal. They can never stop the signal."
  5. Re:How's the efficiency? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    two words: minesweeper

  6. Re:Comparisons to other emulators? by badfish99 · · Score: 3, Funny

    A java based emulator doesn't need to be ported.
    That's the huge advantage of java. Just port the 100 meg or so of JVM, throw in a faster processor and a few more gigs of memory, and it'll run on anything.

  7. My intepretation by Excelcia · · Score: 4, Funny

    An interpreted language being used to write an opcode interpreter.

    For an encore, perhaps they can write a JVM in BASIC.

    WARNING: Performance implosion imminent due to recursive interpretation.

  8. Re:can you run java in the x86? by Citizen+of+Earth · · Score: 4, Funny

    The next question would be: can you run java in the x86 emulator that runs an other emulator that runs java, that runs another emulator.

    ...written in XSLT.

  9. Re:What do you do when it crashes? by Eudial · · Score: 1, Funny

    I was playing around with DEBUG.COM and ran "OUT 20, AX"...and now it's apparently dead. A lot of things don't seem to work - e.g. "mode 80,20". Even "dir c:" when the current drive is "a:" seems to hang. I wonder how complete the hardware emulation is. Can you run Windows 3.1 on this? How about programs that probe for a joystick?


    It isn't dead! For crying out loud, it's java! It's still processing the instruction... Come back in September for the result.
    --
    GAAH! MY PRINTER IS ON FIRE!!! PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!
  10. Re:can you run java in the x86? by Cyberax · · Score: 4, Funny

    Yes.

    The next step is to get rid of hardware altogether.

  11. Re:can you run java in the x86? by Pseudonym · · Score: 2, Funny

    It's turtles all the way down, I tell you!

    --
    sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f(q{sub f{($f)=@_;print"$f(q{$f});";}f});
  12. Re:can you run java in the x86? by timeOday · · Score: 3, Funny

    Linux on emulated hardware can be faster than Linux on real hardware:
    There you go, a perpetual speedup machine. Run enough layers of Java on X86 on Java on X86 and supercomputers will be replaced by Cyrix 386s.