J2SE 5.0 Release 3 Now Available

[MacRumors]

http://www.macrumors.com/images/macrumorsthreadlogo.gif (http://www.macrumors.com)

Now available for download via Software Update:
Java 2 Platform Standard Edition (J2SE) 5.0 Release 3 includes version 1.5.0_05 and improves functionality of J2SE 5.0 on Mac OS X v 10.4 Tiger 10.4.2 and later. This release does not replace the existing installation of J2SE 1.4.2.

For more details on this Update, please visit this website: http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302412

[zap2]

WOW


well i guess it would be better if i used this but its ok! More New Apple Stuff teh bettter!!

[CubaTBird]

cool...

what more is there to say?:confused:

[Hattig]

The download link is broken on Apple's article. Until they fix it, it is available at http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/java2se50release3.html

[Bern]

So what does that mean, do we use the new Java Utility to change the preferred version to the newer one or don't we?

[ipacmm]

Cool, 43MB...big update.

[dernhelm]

Perfect timing for me! Hopefully nothing is broken, I usually wait a few days on these things, but will probably d/l now...

[Booga]

For those who never ever use Java applets, games like Puzzle Pirates or runescape, or do work with client or server stuff won't find anything interesting here.

For the rest of us, I think not only should people download and install this, but they should use the included "Java Preferences" app to switch everything (Safari, webstart, etc) to Java 5.0 immediately. It's a lot faster, a lot more compatible, and keeps the Mac up to date with all the other major platforms.

[therevolution]

So is this the first time Apple is pushing Java 5 out to users instead of them having to install it manually?

[Laser47]

Yay, a 43mb update
Thanks Apple

[Sedulous]

So what exactly does this do? I am obviously not a java junkie but why wouldn't someone want the latest version?

[MacsAre1]

Everyone complains when updates make us restart and lose our uptime. Well, let me just say thanks to Apple for not making us have to restart this time:) If I remember correctly, we've had to restart on most of the other Java updates, so this is an improvement

[coolfactor]

What's with the weird version numbering with the Java platform?

Java 2 Standard Edition 5 v1.5.x == Java 5?

[PCMacUser]

I just downloaded it but no coffee came out of my cdrom drive...

[Mitthrawnuruodo]

Well, if it makes Safari (and other browsers) to play a bit nicer with sites loaded with Java contents, and maybe lets Java apps run a bit faster and more stable then I'm all for it... :)

[kwajo.com]

FINALLY. that is all I have to say
:p

[Stella]

So what exactly does this do? I am obviously not a java junkie but why wouldn't someone want the latest version?


Java 1.5 breaks a lot of Java 1.4.x and previous code.

Personally I steer clear of Java 1.5.

[mrzippy]

This is not a preview, this is the final version.

The preview versions were available on the ADC.

[jimsowden]

I just downloaded it but no coffee came out of my cdrom drive...
It's not dave 2.0

[Nik_Doof]

Woo, i can finally get XMediaGrabber to work on Tiger now :)

[bryanc]

I've been looking forward to this for a long time. I use the Sequence Manipulation Suite (http://bioinformatics.org/sms2/) a lot, but it still dosen't work with Safari. Even after I set my java preferences to 5.0.

Is there a test URL somewhere I can try to make sure I've got Java 5 support enabled in Safari?

Cheers

[mrzippy]

I've been looking forward to this for a long time. I use the Sequence Manipulation Suite (http://bioinformatics.org/sms2/) a lot, but it still dosen't work with Safari. Even after I set my java preferences to 5.0.

Is there a test URL somewhere I can try to make sure I've got Java 5 support enabled in Safari?

Cheers

Safari > Help > Installed plug-ins I'd imagine.

[mrzippy]

What's with the weird version numbering with the Java platform?

Java 2 Standard Edition 5 v1.5.x == Java 5?

You forgot it's also Apple Java release 3!

Java 2
Java 5
Java 1.5.x
Java release 3

WOW they like to confuse!

[cbigfoot1987]

I've been looking forward to this for a long time. I use the Sequence Manipulation Suite (http://bioinformatics.org/sms2/) a lot, but it still dosen't work with Safari. Even after I set my java preferences to 5.0.

Is there a test URL somewhere I can try to make sure I've got Java 5 support enabled in Safari?

Cheers

http://java.com/en/download/installed.jsp?detect=jre

That should do it

[EricNau]

Anybody actually download it? Any problems?

[bryanc]

Thanks cbigfoot,

It appears I have the 1.5 install configured properly, but that site says it's not the latest version. Hmmm...

Description Your Environment

Java Runtime Vendor: Apple Computer, Inc.
Java Runtime Version: 1.5.0_05

You do NOT have the latest version of Java.
The latest version of Java software = Version 5.0 Update 5.

Any ideas?

[jeriqo]

Java 1.5 breaks a lot of Java 1.4.x and previous code.

Personally I steer clear of Java 1.5.

The updater says the 1.5 update does not remove the 1.4 version.

Other big news, firmware update for the Powermac G5 1.8GHz rev. B is out !

[DTphonehome]

Don't know if this is related, but I just installed the update on my rev A iMac G5, and my fans all kicked in at high speed and my system temp jumped.
I'll try giving it a restart.
--DT

[tbfromny]

Just installed and used the aforementioned Java Preferences app to switch over to Java 1.5 (btw, it's in Applications -> Utilities -> Java -> J2SE 5.0)

I don't know if any of you wind up using the Java-based Novell Groupwise client... I do (it's a damn sight better than the Web client) and it's just snappier!:)

Yay!

[Nermal]

I've been looking forward to this for a long time. I use the Sequence Manipulation Suite (http://bioinformatics.org/sms2/) a lot, but it still dosen't work with Safari. Even after I set my java preferences to 5.0.

That site doesn't appear to use Java. JavaScript is not Java.

[phasornc]

What's with the weird version numbering with the Java platform?

Java 2 Standard Edition 5 v1.5.x == Java 5?

Java = Java 1.0 and Java 1.1
Java 2 = Java 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 (including 1.4.2)
Java 5.0 = Java 1.5

Sun's marketting just wants to let everyone know that this one is a big deal. From a developer standpoint it is a huge deal. I know these features will be meaningless to normal web surfers, but generics, auto-boxing, an enhanced 'for' loop that adds Perl-like 'foreach' behavior, are huge timesavers for coders. Java 1.5 doesn't simply add some new objects to slice and dice xml, but rather it fundamentally alters the way most programmers will write their code.

Here's a simple example. If you were a coder, which line would you rather type, they both do the same thing but the first one is in Java 1.4.2 and the second in Java 1.5:


int x = ((Integer)myVector.get(1)).intValue();

or

int x = myVector.get(1);

[Booga]

Java 1.5 breaks a lot of Java 1.4.x and previous code.

Personally I steer clear of Java 1.5.

Examples? The Java 1.5 JVM was designed to be completely backwards compatible. The only code I've seen it break was code that was incorrect to begin with (thread locking bugs, AWTEventQueue problems, etc.)

I've not only run Java 1.4 successfully on Java 1.5 for Mac and Windows, I've run the same code on the Java 1.6 early access builds for Windows, and it runs the same only faster.

[ryanw]

What's with the weird version numbering with the Java platform?

Java 2 Standard Edition 5 v1.5.x == Java 5?

It's by Sun... Check out some of Sun's other Versioning.

SunOS 4
Solaris 2.6 also known as SunOS 5.6
Solaris 7 also known as SunOS 5.7
Solaris 8 also known as SunOS 5.8
Solaris 9 also known as SunOS 5.9

[Whistleway]

How do i delete the java 1.4. and 1.3 versions on my computer. I wouldn't need them would i?

[Stella]

The updater says the 1.5 update does not remove the 1.4 version.

Other big news, firmware update for the Powermac G5 1.8GHz rev. B is out !

Yes I know..

[Stella]

Examples? The Java 1.5 JVM was designed to be completely backwards compatible. The only code I've seen it break was code that was incorrect to begin with (thread locking bugs, AWTEventQueue problems, etc.)

I've not only run Java 1.4 successfully on Java 1.5 for Mac and Windows, I've run the same code on the Java 1.6 early access builds for Windows, and it runs the same only faster.

I can't remember off hand but I know I've tried compiling code that was fine under Java 1.4 but fails compilation under 1.5 ( and yes, it was correct code!)

[mkrishnan]

If I'm not mistaken, past releases of J2SE 5.0/1.5 version did not set themselves as automatic -- that is, Java 5 would get used only if Java software requested it, and 1.4x would be used in all other cases, unless you change this with the prefs app that is included in the

/applications/utilities/java/j2se 5.0/

folder. Has this changed as of this release (or did it change at a previous update, or am I completely wrong)?

[Mantra]

How do i delete the java 1.4. and 1.3 versions on my computer. I wouldn't need them would i?
Yes, you do need them. Java 1.5 won't install without the latest 1.4 and 1.3 versions already installed.

Azureus 2.3.0.4 and 2.3.0.2 don't work after installing and enabling this update. 2.2.0.2 still works though.

[alosii]

I can't remember off hand but I know I've tried compiling code that was fine under Java 1.4 but fails compilation under 1.5 ( and yes, it was correct code!)

Yes, 1.5 can break things that used to work with version 1.4.x...

I tried a simple Swing app on my Mac with Java 1.4.2_09 this morning and everything was fine, later i tried the same app on a computer with Fedora Core and Java 1.5.x and Eclipse froze on me twice and the app would not start, not even using the terminal.


Woot! first post! :D

[Kobushi]

Well, if it makes some of the java applets I've been seeing lately (or not been seeing) run more smoothly, it'll be worth it.

[micvog]

Thanks cbigfoot,

It appears I have the 1.5 install configured properly, but that site says it's not the latest version. Hmmm...



Any ideas?

Same issue here, so it isn't just you.

[Photorun]

The NWS radar loops (http://weather.noaa.gov/radar/) load a little more (have to say it) "snappy," and a funky new Java logo with SUN MS's logo showed up at first with a big spinning dial, not the usual coffee cup.

New and shiny is good!

[DaftUnion]

I just downloaded it but no coffee came out of my cdrom drive...

Damn, I was thirsty too:D

[ifjake]

i don't know if or how this could be related, but Quicktime stopped working as a plug-in in safari. it plays through the progress bar but no sound comes and the picture is just white blank space.

[Jestered]

Seems snappier and no problems with the QT plugin for me. Azurues also seems to work...

[Music_Producer]

I wonder if this improves performance (Safari) with the USPS website..

[parrothead]

For those who never ever use Java applets, games like Puzzle Pirates or runescape, or do work with client or server stuff won't find anything interesting here.

For the rest of us, I think not only should people download and install this, but they should use the included "Java Preferences" app to switch everything (Safari, webstart, etc) to Java 5.0 immediately. It's a lot faster, a lot more compatible, and keeps the Mac up to date with all the other major platforms.

I downloaded and installed and it seems that most of my applications run much faster, thanks for the tip.

[Mantra]

Azurues also seems to work...
May I ask what version of Azureus you are using and what version of java is reported in the terminal (type 'java -version'). Mine reports '1.5.0_05'.

[devman]

I've been looking forward to this for a long time. I use the Sequence Manipulation Suite (http://bioinformatics.org/sms2/) a lot, but it still dosen't work with Safari. Even after I set my java preferences to 5.0.

Is there a test URL somewhere I can try to make sure I've got Java 5 support enabled in Safari?

Cheers

http://bioinformatics.org/sms2/browser_compat.html

As Nermal said, this is absolutely nothing to do with Java.

Use Firefox for that site and file a bug with Apple (well it's a feature request really).

[bryanc]

http://bioinformatics.org/sms2/browser_compat.html

As Nermal said, this is absolutely nothing to do with Java.

Use Firefox for that site and file a bug with Apple (well it's a feature request really).

I know the guy that wrote most of that site, and he told me that when the Apple JVM was upgraded to support 1.5 through webkit, it should work in Safari. Apparently he was wrong.

Irritating, but not the end of the world.

Cheers

[Kelmon]

OK, I'm happy that Apple are releasing new versions of Java 5 (about time) but I'm still annoyed that this update does not provide the ability to replace the system default Java with 1.5. It's useful that Apple allows OS X to maintain multiple releases of Java but the CurrentJDK symbolic link in /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions continues to point to 1.4.2. This, as far as I understand it, isn't a problem if your application explicitly requests Java 1.5 or higher but I know that I still have problems with Eclipse when plug-ins need 1.5. Eclipse, while it allows you to compile applications using the 1.5 SDK, doesn't request a Java version when starting so uses the default (1.4.2 still) and therefore some plugins won't work. So far the only way I've found around this is to replace the CurrentJDK symbolic link so that it points to 1.5 but I just WISH that Apple would at least give me the option of making 1.5 the system default rather than the apparent fudge that is the Java Preferences application.

[adrianm]

Java 1.5 breaks a lot of Java 1.4.x and previous code.

Personally I steer clear of Java 1.5.

Java in general or Apple's implementation?

Maybe you could give a few examples if there is a "lot."

For those who might be panicked by Stella's claim, don't worry. Java 5 won't become the default on your machine if you install it and only apps that request it will use it.

[adrianm]

...but I know that I still have problems with Eclipse when plug-ins need 1.5. Eclipse, while it allows you to compile applications using the 1.5 SDK, doesn't request a Java version when starting so uses the default (1.4.2 still) and therefore some plugins won't work. So far the only way I've found around this is to replace the CurrentJDK symbolic link so that it points to 1.5 but I just WISH that Apple would at least give me the option of making 1.5 the system default rather than the apparent fudge that is the Java Preferences application.

As a Java developer you should be well used to explicitly specifying java implementations, regardless of which platform you're on. It is correct to do so.

There is no fudge involved in Apple's prefs app. It does the right thing for bundled apps, applets etc; individual app bundles can request a specific VM if needed.

The "default" from the command line depends entirely on your path, which is dependent on your shell settings, .cshrc/.bashrc/zshrc, whether you've set JAVA_HOME env --- all maner of things. Again you don't want this messed with and it's easy to control yourself as a command line user and especially as a developer.

[bemylover]

http://java.com/en/download/installed.jsp?detect=jre

That should do it
this thig says I have older version 1.5.0_05 even though i set 5.0 in the java preferences. does anyone know why is that?

:confused:

[840quadra]

Nice,

The Java WYSIWYG for my site is much easier to work with now, that and the new version of Gallery that has a Java drag and drop function! I was hoping an upcoming java update would fix these!

[javierbds]

Java 1.5 breaks a lot of Java 1.4.x and previous code.

Personally I steer clear of Java 1.5.

Well, I don't know if this is TRUE (I don't think so ... :p ), but then it would be very SAD :( because Java 5 is not MUCH better because it mantains BACKWARDS compatibility.

Stella, could you post some code snippet that would break in Java 1.5 ? :cool:
Most of the old code I have seen that 'broke' when Java was updated, was due to using prerelease API stuff ...

Personally I try to steer clear of Java pre JSE 5 :D
Yes, I'm j junkie , so what?

Between 1.2.x and 1.5.x the language changed just a little (1.4 introduced asserts, but not full programming by contract), the APIs changed more. Java 5 introduced : typesafe enums (cool), Generics (ambitious but not so easy to use (erasure), due to BACKWARDS compatibility), enhanced for loop (foreach like), varargs (nice but not general enough, should handle collections ...), some other stuff ... and annotations (a la C#) which is probably the MOST important change of ALL !

People have complained that now Java is no longer a compact OO language, but code is now (once you get used to the new features) MUCH MORE READABLE, ELEGANT, SAFE AND LESS VERBOSE.

[tiiim]

i changed my defaults and no probs here yet!

Also another big news is... This Java app is a universal binary! Get info on it and you will see intel, powerpc ...:)

(thanks to the apple blog for this information)

[PanicRoom]

I can't remember off hand but I know I've tried compiling code that was fine under Java 1.4 but fails compilation under 1.5 ( and yes, it was correct code!)

Stella is correct here. One of the most well known examples in education is the Britannica software which still refuses to run under 1.5. Any macs running the software have to be kept at 1.4 or the program just won't launch. I'm sure this isn't the only example.

BUT as long as Java Preferences allows you to choose which version of Java you want to use (and since it doesn't uninstall 1.4), it's not too much of a problem. The only shame is that you can't easily set the preference on an application case-by-case basis.

[netsql]

check out http://roomity.com , if you want to taste Java.

.V

[alep85]

Cool, 43MB...big update.

That's cuz its a universal binary! First of its kind from Apple!
http://www.theappleblog.com/2005/11/15/apple-silently-starts-sending-out-universal-binaries/

Wow I repeated apparently, my bad.

[Photorun]

I can't remember off hand but I know I've tried compiling code that was fine under Java 1.4 but fails compilation under 1.5 ( and yes, it was correct code!)

Are you rewriting or simply recompiling? If you don't readdress certain outdated code (potentially at least events handling) before it's bytecode it will definitely behave screwy.

[devman]

OK, I'm happy that Apple are releasing new versions of Java 5 (about time) but I'm still annoyed that this update does not provide the ability to replace the system default Java with 1.5. It's useful that Apple allows OS X to maintain multiple releases of Java but the CurrentJDK symbolic link in /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions continues to point to 1.4.2. This, as far as I understand it, isn't a problem if your application explicitly requests Java 1.5 or higher but I know that I still have problems with Eclipse when plug-ins need 1.5. Eclipse, while it allows you to compile applications using the 1.5 SDK, doesn't request a Java version when starting so uses the default (1.4.2 still) and therefore some plugins won't work. So far the only way I've found around this is to replace the CurrentJDK symbolic link so that it points to 1.5 but I just WISH that Apple would at least give me the option of making 1.5 the system default rather than the apparent fudge that is the Java Preferences application.

Gee I didn't read all of it, but the README seemed to tell you how to make it the default for apps, the default for applets, how to configure xcode to use it, how to get xcode to index for it, and so on - all in place of 1.4.2.

Check out the Using J2SE and the Outstanding issues section. That (seems to) have all the manual steps to do it.

http://developer.apple.com/releasenotes/Java/Java50Release3RN/index.html

[eme jota ce]

Everyone complains when updates make us restart and lose our uptime. Well, let me just say thanks to Apple for not making us have to restart this time:) If I remember correctly, we've had to restart on most of the other Java updates, so this is an improvement


Aftering downloading, installing, and resetting the Java Preferences to use this new version, I had to restart in order to get Software Update to stop repeating that this update is available for my system.

Does that mean that the new Java wasn't really running until restarted or that Software Update isn't very swift?

[beatle888]

That's cuz its a universal binary! First of its kind from Apple!
http://www.theappleblog.com/2005/11/15/apple-silently-starts-sending-out-universal-binaries/

Wow I repeated apparently, my bad.



this is wrong. the old Java 1.4.2 and 1.3.1 both say

Architecture: Intel, PowerPC.


for those of you who havent updated the java app yet...take a look. so the Intel reference is NOT a first with this update.

[pfmagic]

Sites that use AJAX for the hover popup work better now.

[Jestered]

May I ask what version of Azureus you are using and what version of java is reported in the terminal (type 'java -version'). Mine reports '1.5.0_05'.

I am using Azureus 2.3.0.4 and the java version is 1.5.0_05.

[devman]

Sites that use AJAX for the hover popup work better now.

why would they? the J in AJAX is for Javascript isn't it...

[mad jew]

Safari still doesn't play nicely with the Dell online store though. Yeah, I know, nobody really cares except me. :(

[mkrishnan]

Safari still doesn't play nicely with the Dell online store though. Yeah, I know, nobody really cares except me. :(

Hmmmm...what happens? I noticed that when coupons are expired or used up or whatever, it gives no error prompt but just goes back to the cart page. But I ordered my Axim from the Dell online store using Safari, my mad friend. :o

Now I just need PocketMac or MissingSync to get upgraded for WM5.... I actually really love this thing!

[mad jew]

Hmmmm...what happens?


I can't customise any BTOs (or whatever Dell calls them). I just get the attached error message. I have the same problem with all browsers on OSX interestingly except Explorer which only shows this error if I don't wait for everything to update first. :(

[devman]

Safari still doesn't play nicely with the Dell online store though. Yeah, I know, nobody really cares except me. :(

The Dell online store doesn't use Java. This update has no relevance.

[MacBandit]

I can't customise any BTOs (or whatever Dell calls them). I just get the attached error message. I have the same problem with all browsers on OSX interestingly except Explorer which only shows this error if I don't wait for everything to update first. :(

Dell customize features work fine for me but they always have.

[mad jew]

The Dell online store doesn't use Java. This update has no relevance.


But then why the error and how come the little teacup shows in the taskbar in Windows? Whatever it is, it's weird. :(

MacBandit, what browser is that with?

[devman]

But then why the error and how come the little teacup shows in the taskbar in Windows? Whatever it is, it's weird. :(


Beats me - how did we suddenly switch to windows?

I just tried customising a system at dell.com using Safari and all worked fine for me and no Java applets were loaded by any of the pages (that I could detect). There is tons of Javascript though...

[mad jew]

Beats me - how did we suddenly switch to windows?


I've got a PC too and I'm not 100% XP savvy but I figured the little teacup in the task bar meant it was using Java stuff on that page... Hmm...

[devman]

I've got a PC too and I'm not 100% XP savvy but I figured the little teacup in the task bar meant it was using Java stuff on that page... Hmm...

Ok, well it's a coffee cup actually and yes that represents the Java plugin. What browser are you using and what url triggers the Java plugin load? (although the odds of me being able to help you with a Win problem are approaching zero)

I've run Safari and Firefox on OS X and neither load Java and both work fine customising a BTO at dell.com.

I then went out and booted an old Win98 box and used Firefox and IE on it. Both customised a BTO fine at dell.com and neither loaded Java.

This is what I would expect. There's no evidence of a Java applet at dell.com that I can see - either browsing the site or viewing source.

What's confusing things here is there are about 3 separate issues being mixed together.

1. You cannot customise a BTO at dell.com using Safari on OS X but others can.

2. Java and Javascript are not the same thing and are being confused. dell.com uses Javascript, not Java. Thus the JRE update from Apple is moot.

3. On your windows box the Java plugin is being loaded.

[MacBandit]

But then why the error and how come the little teacup shows in the taskbar in Windows? Whatever it is, it's weird. :(

MacBandit, what browser is that with?

I'm using Safari in 10.4.3 but as I said it's always worked for me. I remember configuring Dells for comparison reasons a couple years ago using Safari.

Do you maybe have some 3rd party add-on that blocks certain sites and advertisements?

[mad jew]

Sorry people, I've just worked out it's the Dell Australia site I'm having trouble with. I'd assumed the US Dell site would be pretty much the same but it's really not. The Dell Australia site works with XP but not my standard issue Safari (no plug ins). :(

[seashellz]

hmmm.... after a proper install, I still get:

(Terminal)
user$ java -version

Java 1.4.2
wutzitmean?

[Jestered]

hmmm.... after a proper install, I still get:

(Terminal)
user$ java -version

Java 1.4.2
wutzitmean?


You have to go into your apps folder, then utilities. Then go into the Java folder and then the J2SE 5.0 folder. Launch the setup program. From there you have to select 5.0 as the default java version to use. That is all there is to it.

[MacBandit]

Sorry people, I've just worked out it's the Dell Australia site I'm having trouble with. I'd assumed the US Dell site would be pretty much the same but it's really not. The Dell Australia site works with XP but not my standard issue Safari (no plug ins). :(

Yup that sites pretty much screwed up. Also the selection of machines is lacking and old.

[mad jew]

Yup that sites pretty much screwed up. Also the selection of machines is lacking and old.


It's what I get for living out in the colonies. :(

[MacBandit]

It's what I get for living out in the colonies. :(

Don't forget we're one of the colonies as well. Don't blame yourself though blame Dell. Wait a minute why would you even want the Dell page your actually better off that Dell has a smaller presence. You have enough reptiles crawling around down there, no need to add one more snake in the grass.

[devman]

Sorry people, I've just worked out it's the Dell Australia site I'm having trouble with. I'd assumed the US Dell site would be pretty much the same but it's really not. The Dell Australia site works with XP but not my standard issue Safari (no plug ins). :(

Arrrgh! Oh well, that explains it all.

Yep the dell aussie site is totally different to the USA one. Amazing code... the customise page is like a contest to see if every api of every known web technology can be used in the one page. :eek:

So, yes that page does not work correctly in Safari. Why - I've no idea. There are something like a thousand lines of client-side javascript involved - plus it's servlet/jsp server-side anyway. And if that's not enough...

Yes there is a client-side Java applet too so that is why you saw the Java plugin being loaded on Windows. There's an applet being used as some sort of validator for the customisation - on top of all the other validation being done...

Can't say for sure if it's Java or Javascript/dom that's causing the Safari problem. But I'd be surprised if it was the Java applet. (FYI - the Java applet is not visible, it's a model class validator - it's loaded beside the big GIF that says Select System Components near the top of the customise page).

My $0.02. Use firefox and run screaming into the night... :)

[mad jew]

My $0.02. Use firefox and run screaming into the night... :)


But people might think I'm mad... :eek:

Yeah, I haven't got it to work on Firefox for Mac either. It really doesn't matter though.


You have enough reptiles crawling around down there, no need to add one more snake in the grass.


This could get so dirty, so quickly... :D

[MacBandit]

But people might think I'm mad... :eek:

Yeah, I haven't got it to work on Firefox for Mac either. It really doesn't matter though.





This could get so dirty, so quickly... :D

It's already dirty. We are talking about DELL!!!;)

[Kelmon]

As a Java developer you should be well used to explicitly specifying java implementations, regardless of which platform you're on. It is correct to do so.

There is no fudge involved in Apple's prefs app. It does the right thing for bundled apps, applets etc; individual app bundles can request a specific VM if needed.

The "default" from the command line depends entirely on your path, which is dependent on your shell settings, .cshrc/.bashrc/zshrc, whether you've set JAVA_HOME env --- all maner of things. Again you don't want this messed with and it's easy to control yourself as a command line user and especially as a developer.

This is perhaps a peculiarity with Eclipse but since it doesn't seem to request a specific VM version it gets the system default which remains at 1.4.2. This doesn't seem to be a problem for most applications because, as you note, if it needs a higher version of Java then it'll request it and be given it by OS X. However, with Eclipse's "applications inside applications" plugin structure, you may find yourself needing Eclipse to start using 1.5 but it just gets 1.4.2 despite the Java Preferences having been set to use 1.5. I encountered this problem with a JavaScript plugin called "JSEclipse" that requires Java 1.5 but the only way that I figured out to get Eclipse to start itself using Java 1.5 was to change the CurrentJDK symbolic link. On retrospect, starting Eclipse from the Command Line would also work if I explicitly tell it the VM to start in, but I'm just lazy and wanted to launch it from Quicksilver...

Anyway, the point of this is that I don't see why I cannot change my system default Java VM to 1.5 without having to muck around in the OS.