Java SDK on Mac OSX

[Hussein Baghdadi]

Hi.
I have one question about Java on Mac OSX.
After spending some hours at : http://developer.apple.com/java/
And got some questions :
1. Why Apple's version of Java SDK is smaller than Linux and Windows version ?
No demo dir for example ?
Is Apple implementation of Java SDK is identical to Sun implementaion (No difference at all in functionality) ?
2. There is dir called : /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/
This dir contatins 3 or 4 versions of Java SDK, How to specify Java SDK 5 as my default SDK ?
3. There is also a dir called : /Library/Java/Extensions/
In this dir, we put Java jars.
It seems to me that Apple has changed the structure of Java SDK, is it true ?
4. I read about Application bundle in Mac OSX.
It seems to me that it allow us to create executable jar files (like exe on Windows), right ?
Well, it seems great if true.
5. Any good online tutorials about how to install Java SDK on Mac OSX ?
I'm really sorry guys for my questions about Mac OS X, but I'm trying to collect as possible information as I can.
(Please note that I'm talking about SDK not JRE)
Thanks.
[ May 05, 2005: Message edited by: John Todd ]

[marc weber]

2. There is dir called : /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/
This dir contatins 3 or 4 versions of Java SDK, How to specify Java SDK 5 as my default SDK?

This is the problem I had after installing Java 5.0. A resolution is posted here...
https://coderanch.com/t/111469/Mac/Java-Missing-Installation-Instructions

Note that in the 6th bullet point of these instructions, you could specify any of the version folders for the "CurrentJDK."


4. I read about Application bundle in Mac OSX. It seems to me that it allow us to create executable jar files (like exe on Windows), right?

I don't know much about this (yet), but the following is an interesting overview...
http://www.developer.com/java/other/article.php/1559241


5. Any good online tutorials about how to install Java SDK on Mac OSX?

Installation is easy. Just follow the steps here...
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301073

The only trick seems to be in getting the "CurrentJDK" to alias the desired version, as described above in the answer to question 2.
[ May 05, 2005: Message edited by: marc weber ]

[Rene Larsen]

Originally posted by John Todd:
4. I read about Application bundle in Mac OSX.
It seems to me that it allow us to create executable jar files (like exe on Windows), right ?
Well, it seems great if true.

You can make executable jar files on any platform - Mac OS X included.

Working with Manifest Files: The Basics

After making the executable jar you just double click on it (or as described in the tutorial 'java -jar <filename.jar>') and it should start the program.

Rene