Hi Prakash,
A similar issue was raised by Sarita Gupta who asked
do I have to document how to install and execute the application in both Unix and Windows environment in this thread about the readme document, to which I replied:
It would not be possible to document how to install and execute the application in every environment that Java runs on, even if you tried to limit it to those with GUIs. So all you have to do is document how to install and execute it on the platform you developed on. No one made any comments at all to my post so, I assume it is what most people agree with.
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Running on different platforms can have an effect on your GUI despite the fact that it is "write once, run anywhere". A typical issue could be the size of buttons - are they 32 pixels high or 24 pixels high: this differs between platforms. If your design relies on exact placements, then you are more likely to run into problems with this than if you use a standard layout manager. If you use a standard layout manager, and allow your screens to be resized, then a layout problem caused by platform issues should be rectified by the user resizing the window. This then raises the issue of whether you save the user's preferred window size and location and reuse them next time through.
All of which is a long way of saying that if you can test on multiple platforms, then
you should do so. But if you cant, dont loose sleep over it. I dont think that Sun, or anyone else, expect you to go out and buy some brand new equipment just to test your assignment.
Question for the group: Has anyone ever tried asking Sun if they can use one of Sun's machines to test on? Most hardware manufacturers (HP, IBM) have test rooms set up all over the world so that software manufacturers can test and benchmark their software, and I assume that Sun would be the same. I wonder if they would be kind enough to allow a candidate to come on site and use such a machine? Probably overkill unless you are almost next door to the Sun offices and have no other way of testing cross platform, and really really want to do this.
Still want to test but still stuck? If you ask amongst your collegues and friends, you will probably find one that is a Linux user (try sys admins at work or at the local Uni - they often have at least one Linux box laying around), and see if they will let you test on Linux.
Regards, Andrew