Applet Returns: The new generation of Java Plug-ins

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Applet Returns
The new generation of Java Plug-ins
Learn about the new Java Plug-in architecture with practical examples in Java and
JavaFX

SERGE REHEM AND ULISSES TELEMACO
TRANSLATED BY MARIA ALICE, REVIEWED BY FABIANE NARDON

Abstract:

Kind of forgotten among so many news in RIA world (Adobe Flash/Flex/Air, Microsoft
Silverlight, JavaFX, ...), the new architecture of Plug-ins can bring back Applets as an option to be
considered. They can be used to create a variety of applications, from small components to be
embedded in traditional web pages (such as “stylish” buttons, animations or graphs) to more
complete applications (as filling in a form or a questionnaire) similar to a Desktop applications. The
current architecture offers pretty much the same advantages you can find in Java WebStart
applications.
We will start recollecting the old way of building up Applets and showing an overview of this
technology. Then, we will present what is new on the new architecture of Java Plug-in, showing
practical examples in Java and JavaFX tested in Windows, Linux and Mac OS. We will see how the
usage of JNLP – the same format used in Java WebStart applications – allows the customization of
properties as, for example, the selection of an specific JVM to be used, the usage of an own address
space for each Applet, the possibility of providing parameters to the JVM, the option to change the
default background image from Java showed in loading moment, and more. One of the great new
features is a “drag-drop” option that allows an Applet to be dragged to “outside the browser”
making it to be executed as an independent application. At the end, we will suggest additional
readings for those who aspire more deep learning in this subject.
When Java was released, fifteen years ago, Java “mini-applications” executed in browsers were
Java “big hit”. At that time the common discussion was “what is best? Java Applets or Microsoft's
Activex?”. A long time have passed since then and there was little evolution in Applets technology
(well, we better not even talk about ActiveX...). The Java 1.6 update 10 came to change radically
this scenario, presenting the new generation of Java plug-ins. This article will reveal the most
important changes in the plug-ins architecture, showing practical examples why we believe Applets
are definitively back.

Remembering Applets

An Applet is a special Java program, embedded in an HTML page, which is executed in the
context of a Java enabled browser. In other words, an Applet is a subclass of
java.applet.Applet (or javax.swing.JApplet), which provides an interface between
the applet and the browser environment. Although going deep in Applet technology concepts isn't
the goal of this article, it is useful to remind the principal concepts. So, we will build a traditional
Applet, then we will introduce gradually the new Java Plug-ins architecture.
The following code creates a simple Applet that displays on screen the message “Hello Java
Bahia!”.

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import javax.swing.JApplet;
import javax.swing.JLabel;

public class HelloJavaBahia extends JApplet {
@Override
public void start() {
getContentPane().add(new JLabel("Hello " + getParameter("name") + "!"));
}
}

To execute it in a browser it'll be necessary to create an HTML page and use a tag <applet>1.
Example:

<html>
<body>
<h1>My first Applet</h1>
<applet code="HelloJavaBahia.class" width="200" height="50">
<param name="name" VALUE="JavaBahia"/>
Your browser doesn't support Applets!
</applet>
</body>
</html>

And the result would be:

Figure 1. Traditional Applet

Note: This article was originaly writen in brazilian portuguese, that's why the
screenshots figures aren't in english

Known Limitations

Traditional Applets have several limitations. Some of them come from the fact that the JRE and
the browser are executing in the same address space:
• The browser “freezes” when JRE is started for the first time;

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The tag <applet> is recommended to environments where browser portability is an
important requirement (the Internet, for example). In more controlled environments,
as Intranets, it's possible to use the tags <object> too, which it'll work just in Internet
Explorer, and <embed>, for the Mozilla browsers family.

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• A blocking in JRE also blocks the browser;
• Just one version of JRE can be used each time;
• The developer doesn't control which version of JRE is being used, nor can pass parameters
to JVM (to, for example, memory configuration);

Another limitations from security restrictions:
• The Applets don’t have access to the File Systems and thus can't read or write files on
client's machine.
• The Applets can't establish connections with another machines, except with the Applet
origin server.
• The Applet can't start or finalize a program on client's machine.

New Generation of Java Plug-in
The new generation of Java Plug-in brings a totally redesigned architecture and solves many
known problems from the previous generation. Among the most important advantages from this
new architecture, we emphasize the fact that the JVM is now executed in a browser independent
context. So, if a problem is generated by a specific Applet, the new Java Plug-in architecture can
deal with the problem without affecting browser operation. The Table 1 summarizes the most
important advantages of this new architecture.

Table 1 – Advantages of the new Java Plug-in architecture
More Reliability The Applet can be configured to use a browser independent JVM. In this case, Java
Plug-in detects and deals the problems without affecting the browser.
Support to JNLP The new Java Plug-in provides the same features provided to Java WebStart
applications, allowing to load Applets directly from JNLP (Java Network Launching
Protocol) files. It is possible to even access the JNPL APIs for persistence, access to the
system and other functionalities.
Command line arguments It is possible to specify parameters for the JVM (similar to parameters passed by
via Applet command line) via Applet. Therefore, it's possible to configure, for example, memory
heap size or hardware 2D acceleration functionalities.
Support to multiple Now it's possible to explicit which version of JRE must be used by the Applet. Each
versions of JRE Applet individual instance can require a specific version of JRE.
Better Java/JavaScript There was a considerable improvement between JavaScript and Java Applet
communication communication with guaranteed compatibility across different browsers. The JavaScript
API can be used to: detect JRE, install/update JRE, execute Applets, set Java WebStart
applications, etc.
Better life cycle control of The behavior of life cycle control methods (init, start, stop and destroy) in the Applet
an Applet API are now more deterministic and portable across different browsers.
Better memory space The maximum memory that could be configured to an Applet was limited in previous
configuration versions of Java Plug-in. This limitation was eliminated in the new version and the
Applets can be configured to use the same amount of memory as command line
applications can.
Better user experience Applets are loaded in background, improving browser responsiveness. The Applet
appears in the web page just when it is ready to be executed.
Improved support to Signed Applets can have the same privileges of the regular applications in Windows
Windows Vista Vista.

Applets with JNLP
The Java Network Launch Protocol, JNLP, is the default form Java WebStart applications
distribution and installation. The new Java Plug-in architecture allows the same JNLP descriptor

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utilization, what will cause the Applet to behave as a conventional application set via WebStart.
Going back to the example we showed before, we could rewrite the tag <applet> the following
way:

<applet code="javabahia.javaplugin.HelloJavaBahia" width="200" height="50">
<param name="name" value="JavaBahia">
<param name="jnlp_href" value="hellojavabahia.jnlp">
</applet>

In this second example, we suppose that the class HelloJavaBahia belongs to the package
javabahia.javaplugin and it's compiled in newjavaplugin.jar. Note that the parameter
jnlp_href points to JNLP file in the code below. Let's analyze it with more detail.
1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
2. <jnlp href="Hellojavabahia.jnlp">
3. <information>
4. <title>Hello JavaBahia Applet</title>
5. <vendor>JavaBahia.org</vendor>
6. </information>
7. <resources>
8. <j2se version="1.4+" href="http://java.sun.com/products/autodl/j2se" />
9. <jar href="newjavaplugin.jar" main="true" />
10. </resources>
11. <applet-desc name="Hello JavaBahia Applet"
12. main-class="javabahia.javaplugin.HelloJavaBahia"
13. width="1"
14. height="1" />
15. </jnlp>

The element <information> (lines 3 to 6) is required and contains information about the
Applet author and vendor. The lines 7 to 10 (tag <resources>) show interesting new features:
The tag <j2se version="1.4+">2 indicates the JVM3 minimum version accepted to
execute the Applet. The tag <jar> points to the JAR file that contains the Applet runnable code.
The tag <applet-desc> (lines 11 to 14) specifies the Applets name (attribute name) and
indicates the main class name (attribute main-class) and can overload some parameters of the
tag <applet> from HTML file. In this example, although provided, the attributes width and
height from JNLP are of no effect, prevailing the properties defined in the tag <applet>. This
happens because it is assumed that the browser knows better how to accommodate the Applet in the
web page, and only the browser can calculate height and width associated with the page (ex:
width=“40%”). See the official page of new Java Plug-in for more details about all supported
parameters and how to solve other types of conflicts.
JVM Configuration Parameters

Besides deploying an Applet from a JNPL file, it's possible to use the tag <applet> with a set of
parameters (tag <param>) that are JVM specific. We'll show the three main types of JVM
configuration: separate_jvm, java_version and java_arguments. See the example
below:

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The tag <j2se> also supports command line parameters to be passed to the JVM,
such as system properties or maximum heap size. In case of no active JVM can
support the desired task, a new instance will be launched. See the references at the
end of this paper for more details.
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Since the support to JNLP in Java Plug-in will only be available from version
1.6update10, specifications as “1.4+” are basically worthless. Version specification
will be more useful when we can specify for example “1.7+” (from version 1.7), “1.7*”
(any update from 1.7 family) or “1.6.0_13” (just in 1.6 version update 13).

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<applet code="javabahia.javaplugin.HelloJavaBahia" width="200" height="50">
...
<param name="separate_jvm" value="true" />
<param name="java_version" value="1.5+" />
<param name="java_arguments" value="-Xmx128m" />
</applet>

The first parameter (separate_jvm) states that the Applet can be executed in its own instance
of the JVM, separated from all others Applets. This can be useful when making Desktop
applications run in the browser. The second parameter (java_version) allows to specify the
minimum version of the necessary JVM to execute the Applet. And the third parameter
(java_arguments) was used to configure the maximum of memory that the Applet can use in
execution time.
“Drag-Drop” Feature
One of most interesting new features of the Java Plug-in new architecture is the possibility of drag
an Applet and drop it in the Desktop. However, this is an experimental functionality and there is no
guarantees that it will be supported in future Java Plug-in versions. To enable this feature just add
the parameter <param name=“draggable” value=“true” /> inside the tag
<applet>. To test it, use the combination (Alt key + mouse left button) and drag the Applet to
your Desktop. You will see a little close button on the top right corner of your screen. The Applet
API allows to even customize the act of “dragging”, the close button and the loading image
(replacing the traditional cup of coffee from Java).
While the page with the Applet is opened, it may return to its origin place. If the page is closed,
reloaded or navigated to another, the Applet is disconnected from the browser and starts to execute
in an independent way.

In some Linux platforms this combination (Alt key + mouse left button) is
normally used to move windows, then it is necessary to change the behavior of
this combination in the Operational System windows manager. Optionally, it is
possible to customize the key combination in the Applet. To do that, implement
in the Applet a public method with the interface public boolean
isAppletDragStart(MouseEvent e);

Integration with JavaScript

The LiveConnect specification, used to integrate JavaScript and Java Applet, was totally re-
implemented. The new architecture guarantees more reliability, compatibility among browsers and
better performance, either for JavaScript calling Applets as for Applets calling JavaScripts methods.
See an example of JavaScript invoking an Applet method.

import javax.swing.JApplet;
import javax.swing.JLabel;

public class HelloJavaBahia extends JApplet {

@Override
public void start() {
getContentPane().add(new JLabel("Hello " + getParameter("name") + "!"));
}

public String upperCase(String s){
return s.toUpperCase();
}
}

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The call for the method upperCase is done transparently:

<html>
<body>
<h1>My first Applet</h1>
<applet id="app" code="HelloJavaBahia.class"
archive="HelloJavaBahiaApplet.jar"
width="200" height="50">
<param name="name" VALUE="Java Bahia"/>
Your browser doesn't support Applets!
</applet>
<script language="javascript">
var msg = app.upperCase("Hello Java Bahia!!!");
document.write(msg);
</script>
</body>
</html>

And the result can be seen in Figure 2 bellow:

Figure 2. Integration between JavaScript and Applet

In order to make this article not too long, we won't detail here the integration with JavaScript. For
more information (as, for example, how to call a JavaScript method inside an Applet), please see
the LiveConnect documentation linked at the end of this paper.

Preparing the browser

The new Java Plug-in architecture was designed to work in Internet Explorer 6 and 7, in Windows
XP and Vista, and in Firefox 3, in Windows XP and Vista, Solaris and Linux.
The configuration of Internet Explorer must be done through the Java Control Panel, accessible
through Windows XP or Vista Control Panel, enabling new generation of Java Plug-in in
“Advanced” tab, as in Figure 3.

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Figure 3. Enabling new Java Plug-in in Windows

In Linux or Solaris, the Firefox 3 configuration is a little more complicated. You have to create
manually a symbolic link (symlink) to the new Java Plug-in. For that, open a shell and go to plugins
paste in your Firefox installation directory (for example: /etc/lib/firefox-3.0.10/plugins) and execute
the command ln -s pointing to your directory <JRE_HOME | JDK_HOME>/jre/lib/
{i386,sparc}/libnpjp2.so. For example:
cd /opt/firefox/plugins
ln -s /usr/jvm/lib/sun-java6/jre/lib/i386/libnpjp2.so

JavaFX Applets with NetBeans

Exploring the possibilities of new Java Plug-in further, we'll see how to create an Applet with
JavaFX, a multimedia software platform for creating Rich Internet applications, which can be
executed in several different devices. Totally based in Java, JavaFX allows to create applications
with high visual and interactivity quality to execute in desktop, browser, cellular telephones, video-
games, Blu-rays and even in digital TV. Deepening in this theme is out of scope of this paper, so we
suggest a visit to http://javafx.com for those who wish to learn more about JavaFX.
At the moment we write this article, NetBeans is the only IDE that supports JavaFX. Using
NetBeans 6.8 (the most recent version when we wrote this article), create a new project of JavaFX
Category and choose JavaFX Script Application. Fill the information as in Figure 4.

Figure 4. Creation of a JavaFX project in NetBeans 6.8

After creating HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX project, click with the right button in your name and choose
the option Properties. In the Run category, create a new Configuration clicking in New and type
Applet. Selects the option Run in Browser. Your screen should be as in Figure 5.

Figure 5: Configuration of JavaFX project in Netbeans 6.8

Following, in the Properties window, choose the Application category and type the information as
shown in Figure 6. Note that the option Draggable Applet should be selected.

Figure 6. Altering project preferences

The code automatically generated by NetBeans can be executed already. It'll open an HTML page
in the browser containing JavaFX code that displays the text “Application Content” below the tittle
HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX in bold. In the dist directory from your project, note that it was created an
HTML file and two JNLP files (one to execute the application as an Applet in the browser and
another to execute it as Java WebStart application).

Figure 7. Files automatically generated in NetBeans build

See below the Java FX Script code from the Main.fx file. The lines highlighted in bold were
modified or added to give a better visual behavior to the Applet, changing front and background
colors and adding an effect called reflection.
Main.fx
1. package hellojavabahiajavafx;
2.
3. import javafx.stage.Stage;
4. import javafx.scene.Scene;
5. import javafx.scene.text.Text;
6. import javafx.scene.text.Font;
7. import javafx.scene.effect.Reflection;
8. import javafx.scene.shape.Rectangle;
9. import javafx.scene.paint.Color;
10.
11. Stage {
12. title: "Hello JavaBahia JavaFX"
13. scene: Scene {
14. width: 250
15. height: 80
16. content: [
17. Rectangle {
18. x: 0, y: 0
19. width: 200, height: 80
20. fill: Color.BLACK
21. }
22. Text {
23. font: Font {
24. size: 16
25. }
26. x: 10
27. y: 30
28. content: "Hello JavaBahia"
29. fill: Color.WHITE
30. effect: Reflection {fraction: 0.9 topOpacity: 0.9 topOffset: 0.1};
31. }
32. ]
33. }
34. }

The HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX_browser.jnlp file that you can see below, has several tags that we
didn’t discuss yet. They are pretty much self-explanatory, so we won’t explain them. If you want
more information about them, check the references at the end of this article.

1. <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
2. <jnlp spec="1.0+" codebase="file:/home/serge/NetBeansProjects/HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX/dist/"
3. href="HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX_browser.jnlp">
4. <information>
5. <title>HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX</title>
6. <vendor>JavaBahia</vendor>
7. <homepage href=""/>
8. <description>HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX</description>
9. <offline-allowed/>
10. <shortcut>
11. <desktop/>
12. </shortcut>
13. </information>
14. <security>
15. <all-permissions/>
16. </security>
17. <resources>
18. <j2se version="1.5+"/>
19. <property name="jnlp.packEnabled" value="true"/>
20. <property name="jnlp.versionEnabled" value="true"/>
21. <extension name="JavaFX Runtime" href="http://dl.javafx.com/1.2/javafx-rt.jnlp"/>
22. <jar href="HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX.jar" main="true"/>
23. </resources>
24. <applet-desc name="HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX" main-
class="com.sun.javafx.runtime.adapter.Applet"
25. width="200" height="200">
26. <param name="MainJavaFXScript" value="hellojavabahiajavafx.Main">
27. </applet-desc>
28. <update check="background">
29. </jnlp>

Let’s modify the HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX.html file so we can explain a few interesting aspects of
this architecture. Note that the lines 14 to 26 were commented out because NetBeans doesn't
generate code using the tag <applet> that we are exploring in this article. In its place, it is used
the tag <script> and inside it, the JavaFX code that load the script Main.fx in the browser. In this
snippet of code, we added a call using the tag <applet> and providing the parameter
draggable=“true”.
1. <html>
2. <head>
3. <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8">
4. <title>HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX</title>
5. </head>
6. <body>
7. <h1>HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX</h1>
8. <applet code="HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX" archive="HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX.jar" width="200"
9. height="60">
10. <param name="jnlp_href" value="HelloJavaBahiaJavaFX_browser.jnlp"/>
11. <param name="draggable" value="true"/>
12. </applet>
13. 
28. </body>
29. </html>

At last, the final result of our “AppletFX” will be as seen in Figure 8.

Figure8. Visualization of the Applet built with JavaFX

Conclusion
This paper aimed to bring back to memory how traditional Applets works and present new
possibilities to Java and JavaFX that are available in version Java SE 1.6 update 10 with the new
Java Plug-In. After a long time of stagnation, it is interesting to see that Sun is trying to repair the
damage and now provides interesting alternatives that may make the developers to reconsider the
usage of Applets in his/her applications and Web pages.

Links
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/deployment/applet/index.html
Applet Tutorial
http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/docs/guide/misc/applet.html
Sintaxe completa da tag Applet
http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/plugin/developer_guide/contents.html
Java Plugin Guide, before Jdk1.6u10
http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/jweb/index.html
Java WebStart Applets and Aplications for the Jdk1.6u10
http://java.sun.com/developer/technicalArticles/javase/6u10_applets
The new feature Applet Draggable no Java SE 6 Update 10 Plug-In
https://jdk6.dev.java.net/plugin2
Version notes of New Generation Java Plug-In
http://developers.sun.com/learning/javaoneonline/2008/pdf/TS-6290.pdf
Presentation in JavaOne 2008 about new Java Plug-in
https://jdk6.dev.java.net/plugin2/jnlp/
Suport to JNLP in new Java Plug-in
https://jdk6.dev.java.net/plugin2/version-selection/
Version selection of the JVM with the new Java Plug-in
https://jdk6.dev.java.net/plugin2/liveconnect/
Integration between Java Applet and Javascript
https://scenegraph-demos.dev.java.net/demo-applets.html
Applets Demonstration using new Java Plug-in

Serge Rehem (serge.rehem@gmail.com) is PMP, MBA in Administration at Unifacs, specialist in Distributed
Systems at UFBA. Serpro/Salvador Analyst since 1997, currently coordinate the technical team of
Demoiselle Framework, in the projection of Technology Strategic Coordination (Cetec) in Salvador's region.
It's JavaBahia leader and maintains the blog bazedral.blogspot.com, about collaborative work at
companies.

Ulisses Telemaco (ulisses@jeebrasil.com.br) is the creator, founder e maintainer of JEEBrasil project. He
has a degree in Computer Science at UFRN. Majoring Mechatronics at UFBA. Speaker in several Java
events such as JustJava, Abaporu, Natal Java Day, Salvador Java Day, Maratona 4 Java, among others.
Participated actively of the JUGs, JavaBahia e JavaRN organization. Currently works as Software
Architecture at OWSE Informática in Rio de Janeiro. Reinforces the SouJava team in the wonderful land.

Maria Alice Leal (mariaalice@ymail.com) is a Computer Engineering student at UEFS. An enthusiastic
about technologies, JAVA, including computing. And had already taught an informatics introductory course of
including nature at UATI (Third-Age Open University) project at UEFS.

Applet Returns: The new generation of Java Plug-ins

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