Java Reference
In-Depth Information
This software has changed hands several times and appears to be currently available from
InstallShield
has long been the leader in the Windows installation world, but it has had more
competition in the Java world.
Java Web Start
discusses Java Web Start, Sun's new web-based application installer.
You can find my early attempts at building a standalone installer for Java in the
yajinstaller
(Yet Another unfinished Java Installer) project at
GitHub
). If you make it better, send me
diffs or a pull request!
“Write Once, Install on Mac OS X”
Problem
You want to install your Java program as a first-class application under Mac OS X.
Solution
Structure your build directory as shown here. Or use a tool such as a commercial installer
(see
“Write Once, Install Anywhere”
)
or the Eclipse IDE Export Mac OS Application wiz-
ard.
Discussion
To be a first-class, fully supported participant in OS X, Mac applications require a specific
installation format, which is fairly easy to understand. Each Mac OS X application, regard-
less of programming language, is installed in a separate directory called an “Application
Bundle,” whose name should end in
.app
. This is the preferred way of installing applications
under Mac OS X. Unlike simple JAR files, Application Bundles will be shown as icons in
Finder (“explorer”) windows and elsewhere, can be saved in the Dock for single-click star-
tup, and can have file types associated with them (so that double-clicking or opening a file
will launch your application and have it open the file).
Figure 21-4
shows a listing of the files in a simple Java application's directory.
