Java Web Start

Java Web Start, from Sun Microsystems, is currently at version 1.0.

Java Web Start went public after Java URL did. It shares many of the visions of the Java URL project, such as secure launching, but, at least in the current version, suffers from the following:

1. The load-on-demand scheme (introduced in version 1.0) is awkward. In Java Web Start, JAR files can be associated with "parts" that can be loaded programmatically. As a developer, you need to decide when certain parts are needed or not, and hard-code this into your software. In Java URL, the class loader handles this, downloading features when they are actually required. Java URL still supports the programmatic scheme used by Java Web Start.
2. Its security features are awkward; for example, signed applications are given free reign on your system, and users have little control over applications escaping the sandbox. It uses the applet security model, which is problematic for applets and ill-suited for applications. The model requires you to purchase a license key from an authorized vendor.
3. Java Web Start only supports only the Java 2 platform, unlike Java URL which is committed to the large JDK 1.1 compliant world as well.
4. As its name implies, Java Web Start is HTTP based, unlike Java URL which is extensible to any protocol you require for your intranet, such as CORBA based loading.
5. The most critical problem is that Java Web Start is not free software. The source code is not available, and you cannot integrate the technology with your product without licensing it from Sun. However, the protocol is available, and Java URL is committed to full compliance with the JNLP (Java Network Launching Protocol) scheme used by Java Web Start. You will be able to use the Safe Network Launcher with JNLP applications.  

WebRun

WebRun, by Michael Sinz, is currently at version 2.4. Like Java URL, it is distributed under the GNU General Public License.

WebRun uses a straightforward approach to solving the deployment problem. It works on standard URLs, such as http:, ftp: and file:. It has no security sandbox, but does support HTTP "security", and memory caching. There is a lot of useful code here, in just one class!

Java URL is far more complex, but presumes to be significantly more robust and flexible, adding real security, versioning, caching, partitioning, binding to any database and protocol, and "dynamically served" applications.

Secure LaunchPad

Secure LaunchPad, by Monoid, is currently at version 0.1. It is basically a sandbox for running local applications, which is innovative and useful in itself. The security scheme is based on "profiles", one per application, which act as user-defined licenses. Unfortunately, source code is not included. 

Articles

More details about the mission of the project are available in an article I wrote for JavaWorld magazine, September 2000.

VNCj

Dumb terminals solve many of the problems of distributed applications by deploying only the user interface. Because the application runs on a single machine its data is secure, development is straightforward, and deployment is as simple as providing the tiny client application (or even avoiding that using the Java client). Even if you plan to have the client run a full blown application in the future, VNCj, another pet project of mine, can let you quickly test it without going through distributed development woes. When you are ready, you can deploy the application using Java URL.

99%

Deployment is not the only hurdle to cross when developing Java applications. You also have to compete with native applications at their own court. This is another free-software project I am coordinating to gather various "application boosters" that give you the native look and feel that Swing never can. Just remember never to rely on these features, and to treat them only as "added benefit" (or "annoying redundancy", if you prefer).

GNU

Java URL is distributed under the GNU General Public License. The GNU web site has a lot of material about the ethics that stand behind the legalese.

(Java and all Java-based marks are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. in the U.S. and other countries.
Tal Liron and the Java URL Project are independent of Sun Microsystems, Inc.)