macOS How to do Java 5 on the Mac?

[Mork]

I've installed Java 5 in the past on the Mac from a site I found, but as soon as Apple pushes another Java 6 version, it wipes out my carefully-installed Java 5.

I do not understand why Apple will not let me manage my own Java installations (or at least leave the existing installation alone or ask me if I want to remove it)?

The problem I often run into is if I compile a Java file on the Mac and try to deploy it to Tomcat where the application uses Java 5, I get a "bad class number found in file" or similar exception.

Is there a workaround to this problem without recompiling the entire application in Java 6?

Thanks.

- M

 

[mrbash]

You can compile your class files explicitly using the -target parameter when you compile using javac. That parameter allows you to specify a particular version of the VM.

Check the following link for more information:

http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/tools/solaris/javac.html