Java Web Start: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 06:27, 21 February 2006

Revision as of 19:56, 22 February 2006

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== Java Network Launching Protocol ==

'''Java Network Launching Protocol''' ('''JNLP''') is a closely-related concept that is often used interchangeably with the term "Web Start." It is the protocol, defined as an [[XML]] file format, that specifies how Java Web Start applications are started. JNLP files include information such as the ___location of the [[Jar (file format)|jar]] package file and the name of the main class for the application, in addition to any other parameters for the program. With thea rightproperly browserconfigured configurationbrowser, JNLP files are passed to a Java Runtime Environment which in turn downloads the application onto the user's machine and starts executing it. JNLP was developed under the [[Java Community Process]] as JSR 56, which includes the original 1.0 release, the subsequent 1.5 maintenance release, and [[as of 2006]], the pending 6.0 maintenance release.

Important Web Start features include the ability to automatically download and install JRE's in case the user does not have Java installed (although this does not work with every browser and platform), and for programmers to specify which JRE version is needed to run a given program. Also, the user doesn't have to remain connected to the Internet to execute the downloaded programs, because they execute from a locally-maintained [[cache]]. Finally, automatic updates of the software from the Web is available when the user is connected to the Internet, thus easing the burden of deployment.