New Signmaker?

[PColumbus73]

The much beloved Signmaker seems to have difficulty being recognized by the newer Windows. So, would this be a good time for an upgrade?

[NE2]

So much for the universality of Java?

[getemngo]

Wow, I used to spend so much time playing the "games" on Kurumi's site, back when I was about 12. (Does that make the rest of you feel old?) SignMaker could use some up arrows and Clearview! 

Never got into Me and the Roads, but that would be awesome to update, especially with all the roadgeek SimCity nuts still out there. There'd be a market.

So much for the universality of Java?

Like Flash, you're not going to see much of it embedded in browsers anymore, but that doesn't mean it won't still be used to develop applications.

[vdeane]

It doesn't work in Linux either, nor on my Chromebook.

[Stratuscaster]

Worked just fine on Win7 Pro 64-bit and Java 1.7u45. For what that's worth.

[vtk]

It doesn't work in Linux either, nor on my Chromebook.

Do you have a Java Runtime Environment installed on either of those systems?



Some here are already aware that I've started making my own signmaker tool.  It's not even close to finished, but it's far enough along that I use it as a first step, then finishing in Inkscape (and polishing in Paint Shop Pro) when I make my signs.  →Vid's Sign Maker thread

[vdeane]

It doesn't work in Linux either, nor on my Chromebook.

Do you have a Java Runtime Environment installed on either of those systems?



Some here are already aware that I've started making my own signmaker tool.  It's not even close to finished, but it's far enough along that I use it as a first step, then finishing in Inkscape (and polishing in Paint Shop Pro) when I make my signs.  →Vid's Sign Maker thread

It's the open source IcedTea that comes with Linux Mint for my desktop and laptop; the Chromebook doesn't have any form of Java as far as I know.  The real Java has so many issues that I don't want it anywhere near my computers, and Sign Maker/Trippy Drive just isn't worth it.

[Stratuscaster]

As someone that has Oracle Java installed on 6 different Linux and Windows systems at home (for Minecraft mostly, but also for several tools to manage other systems remotely for work) - I've not had any "issues" that can be directly attributed to Java.

In fact, I'm seeing today where browsers will implicitly NOT allow Java code to run unless YOU give it permission to do so. Know what code is running - and why - and it simply hasn't been an issue.

ChromeOS does not support Java. Folks have gotten it to run, but it tends to break other things and requires other changes that most will not be willing to make.

[vdeane]

I've found that Java:
-is slow when running
-pollutes the system with multiple versions of itself
-has more security problems than any other commonly run piece of software (during the last couple of years it's eclipsed Adobe Reader, Flash, Office, Windows, and even Internet Explorer for having the most exploits, largely because Microsoft adopted better security practices starting with Vista/IE7 and Adobe started thinking about security a couple of years ago; too bad Oracle hasn't gotten the hint yet)

[Stratuscaster]

Yes, Java is slow. Always has been.

Starting with release 1.7 (IIRC), after installation and verification of installation, you are prompted to run an Oracle Java tool to detect and remove old and outdated and unsecure versions of Java.

There's also nothing stopping the user from uninstalling old versions on their own - something I did every update once I learned it didn't happen automatically.

That said, the biggest security risk is from malware using the Java browser plugins maliciously. Since IE, Firefox, and Chrome all block the Java plugin by default - it's up to the user to allow something to execute in that manner.

Installing the JRE and then downloading your Java app and running it locally poses no threat - presuming that app is indeed safe.