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Java Web Start 1.6 beta2 Review

Introduction

I think that Sun Microsystems would like to see Java on desktops very much. Current computational capabilities and high Internet bandwidth make it quite possible. One of the important technologies that are intended to help in the promotion of Java applications is Java Network Launching Protocol together with Java Web Start. However, the interface of Java Web Start in several versions leaves a lot to be desired, though in Java version 1.5 it was considerably improved.

I downloaded and installed Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0-beta2-b86) to look at the changes in the Web Start interface.

Runtime installation

After the installation of Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0-beta2-b86), nothing appeared in the Start menu. Of course, Java is a runtime in the first place, but what is wrong with creating a menu that would allow users to start Web Start* and see a presentation about Java applications and games? Judging from Sun Solutions CD, Volume 2/2006, they can make impressive presentations in Sun.

Sample applications and a presentation would allow the user to make sure that he has installed Java and to get some basic knowledge about the capabilities of this platform.

* - Now the application is called Java Cache Viewer, but I will keep calling it Web Start to make it simple.

Launching a jnlp-enabled application

We launch the jnlp-enabled application "Anywhere PE Viewer" from the page
http://www.ucware.com/apev/index.htm#jaws.

Information about the digital signature of the application

The application requires full access to the local resources of the computer that is why a dialog box with a warning appears after it is loaded:
java-webstart-signed-jar-1.6.gif

Here is what this dialog box looked like in 1.5:
java-webstart-signed-jar-1.5.PNG

The dialog box looks less threatening in Java 1.6 than in 1.5. There is no yellow exclamation point in it and information about the application and the publisher is clearer. It is an obvious improvement in version 1.6.

Creating shortcuts in the Start menu

In the jnlp descriptor, the author can recommend that the Web Start create shortcuts for the application in the Start menu and on the desktop.

<jnlp>
    <information>
        <shortcut online="true">
            <menu submenu="Anywhere PE Viewer"/>
        </shortcut>
    ...

1.5 displays the following dialog box when such an application is loaded:

I did not see this dialog box in 1.6. It is also rather an advantage than a drawback.

Web Start (Java Cache Viewer) interface

Another pleasant surprise is that the Web Start interface became clearer:
java-cache-viewer-1.6.gif

Here is the way it looked like in 1.5:
java-cache-viewer-1.5.gif

Analyzing the usability of Web Start

Now I will enumerate drawbacks noticed in Web Start at first sight:

If the author of an application does not specify the necessity of creating a menu, no menu will be created in the Start menu. It does not allow the user to start the application again without visiting the web page of the program.
There is no easy way to start Web Start (Java Cache Viewer). Moreover, if it was possible to start it with the "javaws" command from Start->Run in 1.5, now you have to type "javaws -viewer". Besides, the Java control panel will be launched together with Java Cache Viewer.
Applications installed with Web Start appear in Add/Remove programs in the Windows Control Panel, but when they are removed with Java Cache Viewer, they do not disappear from it (probably, it has something to do with migration from 1.5 to 1.6). Besides, if it is possible to remove separate applications via Add/Remove programs, why isn't the Uninstall item added to the Start menu when the application creates a submenu there?
Also, some minor problems constantly appear in the interface, for example, no "Minimize" button in Web Start (Java Cache Viewer) and the Java control panel is started together with Web Start.

Thus, though there are constant minor drawbacks in the implementation of Web Start, I think Web Start is a good framework for delivering Java applications to desktops. And Anywhere PE Viewer is the first jnlp-enabled application from UCWare.com.

UCWare.com