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Java Web Start is a network deployment method that is suitable for games that run as stand alone applications or applets. It is primarily used for games that run as full applications. You would choose Web Start to get away from the restrictions of running in the browser environment, while still allowing your application to be launched from a web page and distributed over the internet. Signed applications can run in an unrestricted environment. Web start will provide a sandbox environment for unsigned applications that is slightly less restrictive than the sandbox used for applets.
Web Start has lots of nice features, such as:
- automatically updating the program it launches
- installing shortcuts that will launch your application to the users desktop environment. (so that it can then be launched in the same way that native applications are launched)
- the ability to make sure you have the needed version of the Java runtime
- the ability to install needed extensions such as JOGL
Instruction for using Java Web Start can be found at the Java Web Start Developer Section
There is a small HowToUseWebstart written by kevglass.
For more general information see the Javapedia entry for Java Web Start
-- BodoTasche - 03 Oct 2003 -- ScottWPalmer - 20 Aug 2003
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