Install Shield vs WedStart

[Rob Levo]

Does Install Shield have a competing product that gets updates from a Web server like WebStart or is WebStart the only product with that functionality right now?

[Kathy Sierra]

Howdy -- I don't think InstallShield does (although I haven't checked in a while) but I'm pretty sure that InstallAnywhere (zerog.com) has this capability either integrated or as an add-on product. I think they're actually using JNLP anyway (just not webstart). : )
cheers,
Kathy

[Rob Levo]

Thanks Kathy.
Sounds like your book is in demand, congrats!!
Take care,
Rob

[Lance Johnson]

Install Shield does have a product for updating applications called Install Shield Update Service. I am not sure if the product uses a web server or some proprietary server. I don't see why it really matters if it uses a web server or not. Finding a deployment solution is the main goal, not how it implements that solution. The product is more geared towards windows applications and not platform independent Java.
FYI, If you are looking for commercial products to deploy your application there are several out there. The two big players here seem to be Sitraka (Quest) and Zero-G. Sitraka has a nice product called DeployDirector. This product is based off the JNLP standard and is, IMHO, very nice. Zero-G has PowerUpdate. PowerUpdate is not based off of JNLP, but if it works for your needs that doesn't really matter. Both applications cost quite a bit but are the best out there.
Hope this has helped. � Lance