What to do in the Future

OK, so we have explained the JAVA problem, and as you can see, Microsoft will drop all support for JAVA in December, 2007.  Well, even at that point you can continue running the old v3805 JAVA VM.  But sooner or later, JAVA will simply die out.

So how do we include those awesome little applets that make web pages come alive ??  Well, you can continue to use Macromedia Flash.  Of course, Flash is difficult to code, and it requires special software (Flash MX). 

Microsoft has issued some instructions and tools on converting JAVA to supported code, although it is doubtful that it actually works in most cases - here are the resources they offer:

Transition Resources

(taken from http://www.microsoft.com/mscorp/java/ )

Customers are encouraged to stay informed about obsolete software and to transition from the MSJVM in a timely fashion. Guidance and tools are available to help customers make this transition.

Documentation

• MSJVM Transition Guide–Developer Version. Technical guidance on MSJVM decision-making approaches with related migration and transition options.
  • Get the transition guide for developers (389 KB Portable Document file)
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). Get answers to such questions as which versions of Microsoft Windows® include the MSJVM, where to find the latest security updates, and what support options are available today.
• Microsoft Dependent Application List. Microsoft applications that have been tested for MSJVM dependencies.
  • Review the application list (149 KB Portable Document file)

Software

• MSJVM Diagnostic Tool. Assesses and reports MSJVM dependencies on one machine or across the enterprise. Only for customers who are interested in running a comprehensive MSJVM dependency analysis.
• Microsoft J# Browser Controls (JBC). Recompiles applets to run on the Microsoft .NET Framework.
• Java Language Conversion Assistant (JLCA). Converts Java applications to Microsoft Visual C#® to be used by the Microsoft .NET platform (note - you will need to have "Visual .NET Studio" to use this)

Support

• MSJVM newsgroup. Get quick assistance and see how other firms are managing this transition.
• No-charge tools support. Worldwide support is available at no charge for the MSJVM Diagnostic Tool, the MSJVM Removal Tool, and the Java Language Conversion Assistant (JLCA). In the United States, please contact PSS at (800) 936-5800. For international support, please contact your local subsidiary.
  • Get contact information for international support

Transitioning Options: Alternative Java Technology Solutions

Although Microsoft cannot vouch for the security and reliability of solutions offered by other companies, several third-party Java Runtime Environment (JRE) solutions are available for customers deciding to pursue this option as they transition off the MSJVM. Customers choosing to explore such solutions should engage in testing prior to pursuing this migration path.

The following vendors offer alternative JRE solutions: