CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javapluginsdesktop-applicationauto-update
stolsvik
stolsvik

Reputation: 5341

"Automatic updates" for Java (desktop) application?

What system do you recommend for implementing "automatic updates" for some java (desktop) application? I'd also want to have module/plugin installation and update. Think Eclipse and Firefox.

I'm aware of Eclipse RCP's OSGi stuff, and also NetBeans RCP has something here. Do one have to buy wholly into their respective RCP stuff to use their module and automatic update systems?

Are there other options?

Upvotes: 28

Views: 18701

Answers (5)

Robert Makritsky
Robert Makritsky

Reputation: 77

It is not like plugin system. But it has updating and installing function for desktop app. You can look by link this

Upvotes: 0

Ma99uS
Ma99uS

Reputation: 10931

Have you looked at the Java Web Start? It checks for updated module on the server and downloads it only if required otherwise things are cached locally on the client PC and starts from there.

Upvotes: 18

Yang Meyer
Yang Meyer

Reputation: 5699

Take a look at Equinox p2, which is probably what you meant by "Eclipse RCP's OSGi stuff"... AFAIK you will need to OSGi-ify your app to use p2 (which at the very least means making your whole application one big bundle).

Upvotes: 1

Stephane Grenier
Stephane Grenier

Reputation: 15917

I believe install4J now offers this functionality as part of their install builder (http://www.ej-technologies.com/products/install4j/overview.html) We've been wanting to check it out but haven't had a chance yet.

Upvotes: 9

davetron5000
davetron5000

Reputation: 24821

Web Start is great if you have infrequent updates and good bandwidth.

If not, however, you need something else. I worked on a project where we had frequent updates and horrible bandwidth. We rolled our own classfile server; the startup code would talk to the server to see if updates were needed on a per-class basis. If so, the changed classes were downloaded and the application continued as normal.

It was actually not terribly complicated, so don't be afraid to roll your own if existing tools don't work.

Upvotes: 8

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