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Applets: Still essential to Java

How do applets fit into the big picture now?

By Anil Hemrajani, JavaWorld.com, 12/01/00

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Applets need to be cached to become instantly available after they are installed. Additionally, applet archives should be compressed to reduce the size of the download. The support and behavior of applets in Web browsers and other devices need to be consistent.

Lastly, at least on the desktop, hardware vendors such as Dell, Compaq, Gateway, and others should preinstall the Java Plug-in with the ability to automatically update its future versions whenever they become available. Sun must push these vendors to bundle the Java Plug-in just as Microsoft does with Windows.

Version 1.3 of the Java Plug-in is absolutely remarkable and exciting because it might just be the thing that rejuvenates the use of applets in consumer and business markets. While I'm a big fan of Macromedia's Flash and Shockwave Players, I believe the Java Plug-in provides a nice alternative to those technologies as long as such tools become available to create impressive animations using Java 2D, for example. According to some estimates, almost 250 million people use Flash/Shockwave players. Sun should push the Java Plug-in to reach as many, if not more, users.

Java applets were and still are great despite technologies such as DHTML, Flash, ActiveX, and other products. I can only hope that Sun will be successful in reviving the interest in applets within the developer and vendor communities. If the browser is going to replace operating systems, Java applets are essential components that need to be part of the browser and other end-user machines and appliances.

About the author

Anil Hemrajani is chief technology officer at iSavvix, a technology services firm for full-service Java and Internet technology solutions. He welcomes your comments and questions about this column. Write to him or visit the iSavvix Soapbox forum.
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