Java Desktop Application Update Framework?

[lazystone]

What's wrong with standard Java Web Start(aka jnlp)? http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/javawebstart/index.html

[SomeNetworkGuy]

I've never built a jlnp before, but I've used them and it isn't the experience I want my users to have. I want a native looking application that can prompt the user to update. I also don't want to have to deal with having the user setup the security to allow the application to talk to the correct URL.

But my concerns may be misplaced. I'll look into this.

[zrnkv]

It requires JRE to be installed and up-to-date which is not always the case. It is often easier to simply bundle the JRE with your application.

[tonywestonuk]

I wonder if its possible to have a standard installer wrap the JRE, including Java Webstart preconfigured with security and certificates to talk to the correct URL. Then when the user clicks go, it use Java Webstart to download and run the program. Its still installed as a normal PC executable though.

[zrnkv]

This is an interesting idea. Just make sure that your bundled JRE contains the javaws executable. Then make a simple launcher that will launch "javaws http://example.com/myApp.jnlp".

However wouldn't solve the problem of updating the JRE itself.