Modern ways to access Java Web Start applications in 2024

Java Applications have long been the cornerstone in the enterprise sector, often powering internal applications and products, with Applets, Java Web Start (JWS), and standalone applications being its key deployment methods. 

Java Web Start gained popularity when Java Applets were deprecated by modern browsers due to the discontinuation of the Java plugin. However, with the increasing trend towards more secure browser-based web applications, finding alternative ways to launch Java Web Start without the Java Plugin or a local Java Desktop installation has become vital in today’s IT landscape.

JWS applications are typically initiated by a website generating a JNLP file, which triggers the launch of the application through a Java Web Start component, which is usually found in Oracle Java distributions. 

This is a challenge for organizations aiming to reduce or eliminate Java Desktop installations from end-user machines, or who are no longer looking to deploy Oracle Java SE installations.

Alternative Java Desktop approaches

One common alternative approach to using Oracle Java involves installing an OpenJDK distribution and leveraging alternative open-source implementations of Java Web Start, such as IcedTea. 

However, these alternatives may lack enterprise support and will come with the inherent security risks of maintaining local Java SE installations on end-user machines. 

A somewhat popular alternative approach involves executing the Java UI on a legacy browser running virtualized server-side, but this method presents constraints related to scalability, significant costs, and access to local machine functionalities.

Introducing CheerpJ for Seamless Access

Leveraging WebAssembly and modern technologies, CheerpJ enables the execution of Java client applications directly on contemporary browsers

It provides the browser with a Java runtime environment without requiring a local Java installation, allowing it to run Java Applets and JWS applications.

The CheerpJ JNLP Runner, a browser extension compatible with Chrome and Edge browsers, includes CheerpJ to launch Java Web Start applications seamlessly on modern browsers. This extension functions by intercepting JNLP file downloads and running the application within a new browser tab utilizing the CheerpJ JVM provided within the extension.

Recently introduced after successful trials with hundreds of testers, including large organizations, the CheerpJ JNLP Runner has proven effective in enabling Java Web Start applications to operate without dependencies on local Java installations.

The CheerpJ JNLP Runner therefore allows the end-user device (physical or virtual) to run existing, unmodified JWS applications (including third-party applications such as Oracle Forms and Oracle E-Business Suite) on modern architectures, increasing their security and reducing infrastructure costs.

Validation and Accessibility

By providing a comprehensive Java Runtime Environment for modern browsers, CheerpJ offers a versatile solution to running Java Web Start without Java. It can be easily integrated as a browser extension on current versions of Chrome and Edge or implemented directly on Java application servers for extension-free execution.

Having garnered a user base exceeding 180,000 across various industries and the public sector globally, CheerpJ stands as a reputable and reliable solution for accessing Java Web Start applications in 2024.

How to Try and Where to Find

The CheerpJ JNLP Runner browser extension can be installed from the Chrome Web Store or Microsoft Edge Add-ons. Organizations seeking broader deployment and integration can explore self-hosting options through Group Policy Objects or similar methods.

In conclusion, CheerpJ emerges as a contemporary solution for organizations and users navigating the challenges of running Java Web Start applications without relying on traditional Oracle Java installations. With its robust features, widespread adoption, and flexibility across modern browsers, CheerpJ paves the way for seamless Java application execution in the evolving tech landscape of 2024 and beyond.

Tags: CheerpJ JNLP Runner, Java Web Start, JNLP

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