   Distributing java applications
    One of the strikes against java: the need for a VM to run apps.  I am at the mercy of the VM of whoever downloads my program.  I''m writing an instant messenger, and i can''t find a good way to distribute it.  JAR files work if i know they have the SDK.  I don''t know of any non-commercial native code compilers that actually work without the need to redistribute core libraries in native form.  bah.  and i''ve come so far :D 
  Use java web start. It''s the best way to distribute .jar files and it comes with the jre ;  what if my users don''t like the idea of installing webstart?  that isn''t always a possibility ;  Most computers are shipped with the JRE these days, so let''s just hope...   ;quote:Original post by Drevay  Most computers are shipped with the JRE these days, so let''s just hope...    but there is the microsoft VM, and the sun VM, and what if the user doesn''t have the latest version?  i think this shows that sun DOES need to make/support a java compiler for native code. ;  Most browsers support java, so maybe make a html page the users have to open, and that html page lets the browser load and run your application. 