Write once, run anywhere

[Tim]

If Java is supposed to be able to run anywhere, what is the difference
between the various application versions for each platform? Is it just
basic installation information and setup procedures?

 

[Steve Horsley]

If Java is supposed to be able to run anywhere, what is the difference
between the various application versions for each platform? Is it just
basic installation information and setup procedures?

Any particular application?

I know of one app that has a Windows version (.EXE), a Mac version
(dunno) and a general any-other-platform version (.jar). I think the
main difference is setting up file associations, and looking familiar to
whoever is doing the installing. Some apps may bundle native interface
code like .DLL and .so libraries for appropriate system.

Steve

 

[Tim]

For instance, Eclipse and NetBeans.

Any particular application?

I know of one app that has a Windows version (.EXE), a Mac version
(dunno) and a general any-other-platform version (.jar). I think the
main difference is setting up file associations, and looking familiar to
whoever is doing the installing. Some apps may bundle native interface
code like .DLL and .so libraries for appropriate system.

Steve

 

[Michael Borgwardt]

For instance, Eclipse and NetBeans.

Eclipse uses the SWT GUI toolkit, which is not part of J2SE and thus must be
implemented separately for each platform.

In the case of Netbeans, it's probably only for the install procedure.

 

[Kin C. Wong]

I think you've mistaken. The phrase is "Write once, debug
everywhere". There certainly are bugs in some versions that are
not in others, and vice versa.

 

[Roedy Green]

I think you've mistaken. The phrase is "Write once, debug
everywhere". There certainly are bugs in some versions that are
not in others, and vice versa.

It is more a problem with Applets where you also have browser bugs to
contend with.