The BugRunner Application

install4j Versus JWS

Before starting, it's worthwhile to compare install4j and Java Web Start (JWS), the subject of Appendix B. install4j creates a standalone installer for an application, which can be delivered to the user on a CD or downloaded via a web page link. A great advantage is the familiarity of the installation concept: double-click on the EXE file, press a few Yes buttons, and the application appears as a menu item and a desktop icon. The fact that the executable is coded in Java becomes irrelevant.

JWS is a network solution, which offers better protection from potentially renegade downloads, and supports application updates. JWS is typically utilized via the JWS client that comes as part of the J2SE installation. The reliance on a network model seems restrictive, especially when applications are large. The possibility of being queried about security levels and updates is off-putting to novice computer users.