Java update utility

[gplasky]

JavaRa

Found this over on the Betanews site.

What it does:

JavaRa will check if your computer has the latest version of Java Runtime Environment (JRE). If the version you have installed has been superseded by a newer version the program will download and install this newer version for you, by running Java's update program. It then allows you to remove all possible older versions of this program. This will ensure that the security of your computer is enhanced and extra space on your hard disk is created.

Easy way to make sure you have the latest installed AND removes any older versions it finds for you. I tested it on a couple PCs and it works well.

Gerry

[BobPhoenix]

This needs to be sticky-ed and/or added to the utilities section. Maybe even an update to the Java update FAQ entry.

[paulbeers]

I don't run the latest java until it has been fully tested with Sage and even now I think I am still running something like 1.6.1. Remember the debacle that 1.5.x was? Any version of any software can have a bad version.

[morikaweb]

I'm sorry but I dont get it. I count a grand total of 5 clicks to see if I have the latest version of java installed.

Why would I need to install a program to do 15 seconds worth of work? Wouldent installing this program be harder than just checking?

[BobPhoenix]

Originally Posted by morikaweb

I'm sorry but I dont get it. I count a grand total of 5 clicks to see if I have the latest version of java installed.

Why would I need to install a program to do 15 seconds worth of work? Wouldent installing this program be harder than just checking?

My thought was that this was for novice users and would be most useful for the automatic REMOVAL of old versions. How many problems posted here have you seen that were cured by getting the latest version and removing the old ones. Removal is something that SUN should have as a selected option in their installers.

[gplasky]

Originally Posted by BobPhoenix

My thought was that this was for novice users and would be most useful for the automatic REMOVAL of old versions. How many problems posted here have you seen that were cured by getting the latest version and removing the old ones. Removal is something that SUN should have as a selected option in their installers.

That's exactly why I posted it. More and more issues have been cropping up because of older versions being left behind. As far as updating, you can have java automatically updated. And as far as not updating until Sage updates java, they provided a 1.4.x version for years while not only java was updated but the plugins actually required a newer version.

The intention was a simple tool for the novice user that requires no more than extracting it, double clicking it to start and then clicking one clearly labeled button. It may be a one time use. But sometimes other apps install a java runtime that you can remove very easily if you see issues crop up.

Gerry

[wtsitmn]

So which version of Java should we be using for Sage anyway? 1.4? 1.6? The latest available from Sun?

Is there a definitive answer?

If Java is removed, Sage prompts the user to install version 1.4, which is really old. What's the real deal here? Anybody know for sure???