Web Start and Java Runtime Installation Resources

Web Start is a gigantic step forward because once installed all Java apps share all installed Java runtimes as well as standard libraries having the same URL. In addition, Web Start can automatically download new Java runtimes and can also update itself. However, most computers lack an up-to-date pre-installed Java runtime plus Web Start and, therefore, require that you bundle a Java runtime plus Web Start with your app.

To help you build your own professional Java runtime and Web Start installer in case Sun's big blue screen installer fails to impress your customers, I collect all information you need to get rolling.

This is a living, growing, list of resources, not a publish-and-forget-it static dead-tree document. Help to improve it. Your contributions are welcome. Send your comments and contributions to the lopica-talk mailinglist (Subscribe/Unsubscribe) or send a private email to gerald@vamphq.com (Gerald Bauer) or post them at Sun's Java Web Start and JNLP forum where I will pick them up.

The initial Java runtime plus Web Start installation depends on your operating system and varies considerably between AIX, Linux, Solaris or Windows. However, all installations need to answer basic questions such as:

• How can I detect if Java runtimes are installed?
• How can I detect if Web Start is installed?

I will use these questions to press all information into a common format.

Check out the operating system that interests you. Here is the line-up:

• Apple OS X
• Microsoft Windows
• More to Come

OS X 10.1+ ships with a Java 1.3 runtime plus Web Start.

Q: How can I detect if Java runtimes are installed?

Check for Java runtime registry entries.

Q: How can I detect if Web Start is installed?

Check for Web Start registry entries.

Registry Entries

Java Runtime Registry Entries

• Java Runtime
• Shell Integration
• Misc

Web Start Registry Entries

• Web Start
• Shell Integration
• Browser Integration
• Misc

Java Runtime Registry Entries

Java Runtime

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

SOFTWARE\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment

CurrentVersion 1.4

Entries per Version

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE	SOFTWARE\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment\1.3	JavaHome c:\java\jre\v13 MicroVersion 0 RuntimeLib c:\java\jre\v13\bin\classic\jvm.dll UpdateVersion 000
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE	SOFTWARE\JavaSoft\Java Runtime Environment\1.4	JavaHome c:\java\jre\v14 MicroVersion 0 RuntimeLib c:\java\jre\v14\bin\client\jvm.dll

Shell Integration

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT	.jar	(Standard) jarfile
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT	jarfile	(Standard) Executable Jar File
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT	jarfile\Shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT	jarfile\Shell\open
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT	jarfile\Shell\open\command	(Standard) c:\java\jre\v14\bin\javaw.exe -jar %1

Misc

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\java.exe

(Standard) c:\java\jre\v14\bin\java.exe Path c:\java\jre\v14\bin

Web Start Registry Entries

Web Start

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Software\JavaSoft\Java Web Start

Entries per Version

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Software\JavaSoft\Java Web Start\1.0.1

Home c:\java\jws\v101b

Shell Integration

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT	.jnlp	(Standard) JNLPFile Content Type application/x-java-jnlp-file
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT	JNLPFile	(Standard) JNLP File EditFlags (Binary) 00 00 01 00
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT	JNLPFile\Shell
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT	JNLPFile\Shell\open	(Standard) &Launch
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT	JNLPFile\Shell\open\command	(Standard) c:\java\jws\v101b\javaws.exe %1

Browser Integration

Mime Type Registration

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT

MIME\Database\Content Type\application/x-java-jnlp-file

Extension .jnlp

Netscape

HKEY_CURRENT_USER

Software\Netscape\Netscape Navigator\User Trusted External Applications

c:\java\jws\v101b\javaws.exe Yes

Misc

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\App Paths\javaws.exe

(Standard) c:\java\jws\v101b\javaws.exe Path c:\java\jws\v101b