[clug] Why isn't Java popular on the Linux Desktop?

[Sam Couter]

Daniel Pittman <daniel at rimspace.net> wrote:
> Well, some of the problems; locating compatible versions of libraries and
> handling changes to ABI between library releases is still an issue for Java
> software.

And it's solved (in Debian, at least) the same way as for native libraries:
compatibility breaking changes need a new version number, and the version is
included in the jar file name.

> One of the big distribution problems it faces in Debian, for example, is that
> most packaged library releases change ABI between versions, so release 1.0 and
> 1.1 are not compatible.

That's a problem with any language.

> This leads to many Java software packages shipping all their dependencies as
> compiled Java code along with the application

For application developers who don't care about Debian, this is the
easiest way to have a downloadable bundle that Just Works. As you note,
it makes it hard for Debian and other distribution vendors to provide a
better, more integrated experience.
-- 
Sam Couter         |  mailto:sam at couter.id.au
OpenPGP fingerprint:  A46B 9BB5 3148 7BEA 1F05  5BD5 8530 03AE DE89 C75C
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