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[java] Which Java Developer Download???

Started by JonAkaJon 6 replies 1.6k views
Original Post
JonAkaJon
JonAkaJon
Hi guys, I have looked on this forum for advice about which java developer download is best but I can't seem to find it. If I am in error, please direct me to the link. Java has various options: Java SE with JavaFX Java SE with Netbeans Java EE I want to write Java programs that can (with a little editing) be made stand-alone programs AND programs that can be launched from a webpage. Its a statistics creating program that will also draw graphs in 3D. The program will have to be able to write files to the server's directory structure which will remain after the webpage is closed, ready for the next time the user logs in. But as I say, I would also like to write (with relevent tweaking) a stand-alone program so some users can download the program once and then launch it without being connected to the internet therafter. Does any one know which version of Java's developement tools I need? Jon
OrangyTang
OrangyTang
"Java SE" is everything you need to write standalone client apps, applets and webstart apps. JavaFX is a relatively new API that you probably don't care about right now. Netbeans is Sun's IDE which you might want, or you can download it seperately (or get a different IDE, like Eclipse).

"Java EE" is Java SE plus extra libraries for writing server-side java web apps (servlets, jsps and all that jazz).

You probably want to get Java EE and to find a separate IDE you like the look of.
Drathis
Drathis
Get the Java SE with Netbeans. Netbeans is awesome ;) Though you need to also implement a way for your software to upload files to the server. Can you upload files using ftp? If the answer is yes, you can get the Apache Commons Net library, which can be found here: http://commons.apache.org/net/. You could also write a PHP script on your server for uploading files.
Glass_Knife
Glass_Knife
Quote:
Original post by OrangyTang
"Java SE" is everything you need to write standalone client apps, applets and webstart apps. JavaFX is a relatively new API that you probably don't care about right now. Netbeans is Sun's IDE which you might want, or you can download it seperately (or get a different IDE, like Eclipse).

"Java EE" is Java SE plus extra libraries for writing server-side java web apps (servlets, jsps and all that jazz).

You probably want to get Java EE and to find a separate IDE you like the look of.


I agree with this. For an IDE, either Eclipse or NetBeans will work. But I do recommend using the server without the IDE until you know what is going on.
JonAkaJon
JonAkaJon

Thanks for the advice.

I am not sure if i made my need to 'write files to the server' explicitely clear.

The user will load up the program on a web page.
Any old data for this user will be stored in a file of the server and will be loaded immediately after the program launches. (The program is responsible for this.)
They will type in some info via dialog boxes in the program.
This data will be saved to the server immediately adding to their previously saved file. (The program is responsible for this as before.)
They can then view this new/old data in graphical format.
Program exits but still keeps the file on the server.

Hope that makes it clear.

Jon

PS. If worse come to worst, I could possibly store this file on the user's PC/Mac but I would prefer to store it on the server.
OrangyTang
OrangyTang
I'd have a client app written in Java and communicate to a server over http(s) to save and load your data. Your server end could then be written in Java (servlets and/or jsps), PHP, Rails, Perl etc. etc. backed by a database of some sorts (eg. MySql). Exactly what you choose for your backend probably depends on what you're familiar with and what your server hosting can support.

If you want more specific advice then you're going to have to be more specific as to what you're having problems with.
JonAkaJon
JonAkaJon

I am probably being really naieve here.

When running a program on a user's windows computer, in c++ I use the basic functions in the language to find the full path of working directory and then I use input/output functions to write a file to that directory.

I was hoping there would be a similar idea in java (se or ee) for applets, working on the web. I was hoping to find the server's directory where the program is situated, and write the file there. I was hoping the Java program would be able to do this independantly of the operating system.

I want this for statistics for a user. I guess a similar idea would be for saving high-scores, if any one knew how to do that.

If not I could save a file on the user's PC/Mac. But again how would I do that?

Yours with confusion,

Jon
OrangyTang
OrangyTang
Quote:
Original post by JonAkaJon
When running a program on a user's windows computer, in c++ I use the basic functions in the language to find the full path of working directory and then I use input/output functions to write a file to that directory.

I was hoping there would be a similar idea in java (se or ee) for applets, working on the web. I was hoping to find the server's directory where the program is situated, and write the file there. I was hoping the Java program would be able to do this independantly of the operating system.

Well yes, as already mentioned you could use ftp to store files remotely without having to write the server end yourself. But because you've have to grant public access to the ftp site everybody could read (and change!) everybody else's data. I doubt your users would be impressed when someone else deleted all of their data because you didn't have any security.

Your server app can be really simple, just a method of setting/updating the data associated with a user, and a method to retrieve this data. If you don't want to make people register a user then you can do it implicitly by using their IP, Mac address or some kind of cookie stored locally.

Quote:
If not I could save a file on the user's PC/Mac. But again how would I do that?

The same way you would for C or C++ - open a file and read or write to it. What's the difficulty?

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