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DianeK

macrumors regular
Original poster
Jun 4, 2013
222
8
Please help me sort this out. So Apple released the update to it's Java 6. Oracle has released Java 7. Which one should be used? I did a spotlight search (see screenshot) and I can't even tell if I have Java on my computer... is that what Java VisualVM is?
 

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Weaselboy

Moderator
Staff member
Jan 23, 2005
34,137
15,601
California
Apple has well and truly jacked this whole Java thing up beyond belief, so you are not alone in your confusion.

First we had Java 6 provided by Apple. That provided the ability to run local Java apps like Crashplan etc. and also provided a web plugin. Then Java 7 cam along and replaced the Java web plugin with the Java 7 version.

So what you have now on a default install is Java 6 will install the first time you run a local app that needs it, then the Oracle updates provide Java 7 for the web plugin part of all this.

http://www.java.com/en/download/installed.jsp

Go the above link to make sure you have the latest Java 7 version.

The short answer is they coexist and are for different purposes.
 
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