Yeah, no. Java is the modern day Flash so needs to go away. I won't install it on my shiny M1 MBA.
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Any new reviews of the M1 now that many apps support Apple Silicon natively?
- Thread starter senttoschool
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Java is write once, run anywhere, so it does have a lot of advantages for writing portable software.
That was it’s mantra in the hey day but it’s a security nightmare nowadays due to being riddled with issues. To me it’s only secure when not installed.
You are talking about Java in the browser. Java for desktop is a different thing. Regardless, in my experience Java programs are usually of terrible quality (because they are written by companies with certain types of culture) and are really more hassle than it's worth.
I think Java in the browser died in the 2000s but when Oracle took over it used to get a JDK point release what felt like weekly and sometimes daily, so it wasn't viable in my mind. I used to fiddle with Java apps on the desktop but got to the point there they all look horrible on the Mac. It's not as bad as Electron stuff but not for me.
Java on the desktop is a bit of a slug, but I'm pretty sure that Java is still pretty popular server side. Still nice for developers to have a native JDK.
The reason they are distributing their own JDK is they want their software to run on a JVM that they support. By installing the JVM themselves, they ensure this.
It also has the benefit of making the app installation simpler for users.
Java is very popular for Enterprise server side development. There is still quite a bit of client Java software out there too, particularly development tools. The JetBrains IDEs are all Java based (though some have a native C++ component).
Then there is Android of course. Most popular client platform globally. Most apps are written Java (or the closely related Kotlin). C++ is used mostly for games on Android and iOS.
When they do this, they usually bury it within the app bundle that ends up in /Applications.
Software like Filebot and Cyberduck do this. I was wondering why Cyberduck (a simple remote server connection app - ftp, scp, AWS etc) was 150mb. It's because it includes it's own JRE.
Yup. It's in a hidden subdirectory off their own bundle which is why I had so much trouble finding it.
I have no problem with apps distributing the JRE, it is indeed simplifying things for the user. But using a custom JRE with incompatible custom extensions is something different.
They distribute Azul which appears to be the replacement for Oracle. It appears to be widely used as they provide support and updates including support for Apple Silicon.
They distribute a Java-only version for systems that they don't natively support. Asking the typical user, though, to type in sudo java -jar launcher.jar is a bit much.
Yes, Oracle recently changed their licensing approach to their official Java distributions. Everyone is now switching to open source alternatives. Azul is becoming the de facto standard.
Have you checked this site that lists whether apps are ready for Apple Silicon or not? It is updated regularly and you can search for apps.
Is Apple Silicon ready?
The Complete Guide to MacOS Apps Optimized for Apple Silicon Macs and the M1/M2 Processors
isapplesiliconready.com