new Java Web Start features in Java 1.5

[William Denniss]

This list of enhancements is making my mouth water: http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0/docs/guide/jws/enhancements-1.5.0.html

So many awesome improvements, I especially like:

Import Facility: Java Web Start now contains an import facility. This can be used for CD installs, where code is initially loaded from one location and then updated from another. It can also be used to pre-install applications and libraries in either the user or system cache without running the applications.

and

VM arguments: A JNLP file can now request arbitrary arguments to the virtual machine. Previous JNLP applications could only use the initial-heap-size and max-heap-size arguments to the j2se element; now a java-vm-args argument has been added. Java Web Start will honor the requests for any normal java and -X arguments that it considers "safe". A list of all such arguments will be included with each release so that the JNLP Spec does not need to change.

The second reduces the number of things you can't do in JWS but could with the plain java command, and the first significently improves the ability to deploy JWS applications by other means and use JWS to keep the clients updated.

Another nice feature I like is this one:

JNLP Cache Viewer: The JNLP Cache Viewer replaces the functionality of the Application Manager's "downloaded Applications" view. Now all applications, applets, libraries and installers are shown. Available applications can be launched online or offline, removed, or restored from the web. All JNLP files are now kept in the cache (even those without href parameters).

Significently the "offline" version which is useful in a game situation where you may want to hold off updating until the servers have first been updated (obviously for games with where the servers are  controlled by individuals).


Nice going sun!

Will.

[swpalmer]

Nice going sun!

I second that...

It's nice to see that Sun is addressing our needs, even if it is sometimes a little slower than we (and Sun) would like.

Thanks Sun.

[princec]

I still haven't quite managed to get my head around all the incredibly good stuff that's gone into 1.5. Almost everything I could wish for, in fact, apart from structs, 2-stage compile and font management And of those, 2-stage compile is the only thing I've been asking for for years.

Cas

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[Herkules]

Now the only problem that will stay: how to get 1.5 to the customers machine....  

[princec]

Mmm. I notice it has yet again greatly increased in size yet 90% of all the new stuff is irrelevant to 90% of the users.

<edit>AAAaaaggh! Egads! I just 7zipped it up - its 16mb! J2SE1.4.2_03 was 9mb!!!!

Nooooooooo!!!!! That's just Too Much Overhead to be worth bothering with Now is the time to start complaining vociferously about the deployment licensing. We must be allowed to deliver the JRE in chunks!

Cas

[Golthar]

I think somebody has had too much Java (the drink)  
Anywyays, yeah the size bites for some people.
Lets just hope the current push to broadband continues (they are pushing it real hard in Europe now)

EDIT: Holy... I just looked at the page and WEbstart now totaly rocks for what I'm trying to do

*pets 2 Mbit can of whoopass

[Markus_Persson]

<threadjack>
*pets 10mbps for ¤20/month*

Sometimes I love living in Sweden.
</threadjack>

[JasonB]

<threadjack me="too">
try living in NZ.  Monopoly telco == $69.95 p/m for 128K with metered limits.
</threadjack>

[princec]

I pay £70 a month (that's, ooh, $120 or so) for 64K access. Read it and weep.

Cas

[kevglass]

Crikey! You must be out in the sticks, I'm only up the road from you and I pay 35 quid for 1Mb

Kev

Games published by our own members! Check 'em out!

[vrm]

due to size of JRE.. it's enougth, will try to switch to something smaller (Eiffel perhaps..) damn Sun  :-/

[princec]

Nah, just delete all the crap out of the JRE and embed it for those customers wot don't have the JRE installed And, er, pretend that your installer is broken.

Cas

[moogie]

<threadjack me="too">
try living in NZ.  Monopoly telco == $69.95 p/m for 128K with metered limits.
</threadjack>

Australia is not much better!... tho it is getting there.

however i can only get uber-narrow-band where i live. (28.8k modem acess baby!)

ah, the joys of browsing the net with pictures turned off in the browser! The way it is ment to be!

At least i miss most of the ads!