java

nichere

hi everyone
i was wondering if anyone can help me i have something that comes up in my icons on the bottom right hand side of my computer that says update java here,what is java???
thanks

gaming_guy

explanation of java

let java update itself. its a harmless program

elite_2

Coffee! :rotfl:

Java is a platform that allows the development of applications

In a nut shell it handles all the boring low level code (stuff that all programs need to do e.g. writing to disk), to allow programmers to concentrate on the application they are developing...

The great thing about java is that it is platform independant - the application can be run on windows, mac etc...

Microsofts equivilent is the .net framework

nichere

thank you gaming guy and elite will let it update.
phew wondered what it was thank you for clearing this up for me

mrscruffy

gaming_guy wrote: »

let java update itself

Yes, let it install and update

gaming_guy wrote: »

its a harmless program

Nothing of the sort.

What will be installed is the Java Runtime Envorinment (JRE) which is the set of instructions for your operating system to run a piece of software written in Java and compiled with Java compiler. This in itself is harmless in that it will be verified, tested and validated by Sun Microsystems.

A piece of software code written in the Java prgramming language which you choose to run on your system care of the JRE, could well be malitious.

Just because Mr. Bin-Laden speaks arabic doesn't mean he is harmless!

nichere

ahhhh have just installed it

mrscruffy

nichere wrote: »

ahhhh have just installed it

It's no bad thing, honest - Otherwise I'd be out of a job!

You need it for viewing fancy websites and the like - I just mean't don't believe the fact that anything Java is fine - Only Java programs from people you can trust, and the one you have installed is fine.

nichere

pheew panicked then.
thanks for coming back and saying that it is ok.

Cerro

Funny - one guys asks about the .NET framework and at the sametime someone asks about JRE.

I wonder how many other end-users see the java cup or the windows updates for the respective frameworks and go "Well whoopty-do, but what does it all mean basil?" (Austin Powers... incase you didn't get that).

So my question is (not to hijack the thread) but why didn't they just do it all in the background automatically, like a shed load of other programs?

mrscruffy

Cerro wrote: »

why didn't they just do it all in the background

If you right-click on the java icon and choose preferences (maybe options or something similar) you can selection this option. But if you have a specific piece of software written for a specific version of Java it can really mess up your week if you change your system - Just ask all those people who have just updated to Vista!

elite_2

Cerro wrote: »

So my question is (not to hijack the thread) but why didn't they just do it all in the background automatically, like a shed load of other programs?

I personnally prefer to choose what is being installed/updated on my machine..

A prompt is great - and if the user doesn't know what it is a quick google or post on MSE sorts them out