Author Topic: "Free" Java coming to an end?  (Read 720 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Intheswamp

  • Early on one frosty morn'...
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 1485
  • Sure...I know enough to be dangerous, now.
    • Beeweather
"Free" Java coming to an end?
« on: May 29, 2018, 07:46:21 AM »
I stumbled upon this notice this morning when I was updating Java.  Not sure of the impact or if this is old news and I'm beating a dead horse.  But, thought I'd post it "in case". 

https://www.java.com/en/download/release_notice.jsp

Davis VP2, v3.12
Cumulus v1.9.4  Build 1079
Today's weather beats no weather at all!
www.beeweather.com
www.beausandbonnets.com

Offline saratogaWX

  • Administrator
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 9257
  • Saratoga, CA, USA Weather - free PHP scripts
    • Saratoga-Weather.org
Re: "Free" Java coming to an end?
« Reply #1 on: May 29, 2018, 10:17:15 AM »
That's not a 'bad thing'.  Most websites dumped Java-based widgets a while ago as there was a big run on Java-based malware.  The malware run on Flash has led to the demise of Flash also.

Now most non-EXE malware uses other scripting (macros in Word/Excel, scripting in PDF files, naked/obfuscated JavaScript).  Sigh.  It's why we can't have good things.
Ken True/Saratoga, CA, USA main site: saratoga-weather.org
Davis VP1+ FARS, Blitzortung RED, GRLevel3, WD, WL, VWS, Cumulus, Meteobridge
Free weather PHP scripts/website templates - update notifications on Twitter saratogaWXPHP

Offline Intheswamp

  • Early on one frosty morn'...
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 1485
  • Sure...I know enough to be dangerous, now.
    • Beeweather
Re: "Free" Java coming to an end?
« Reply #2 on: May 29, 2018, 10:22:03 AM »
...and so it goes.  Isn't progress "wonderful". :sad:

Davis VP2, v3.12
Cumulus v1.9.4  Build 1079
Today's weather beats no weather at all!
www.beeweather.com
www.beausandbonnets.com

Offline Bushman

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 7549
    • Eagle Bay Weather
Re: "Free" Java coming to an end?
« Reply #3 on: May 29, 2018, 11:23:11 AM »
It is going to impact some of the webcams!
Need low cost IP monitoring?  http://wirelesstag.net/wta.aspx?link=NisJxz6FhUa4V67/cwCRWA or PM me for 50% off Wirelesstags!!

Offline Mattk

  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 2135
Re: "Free" Java coming to an end?
« Reply #4 on: May 29, 2018, 05:26:44 PM »
Many would not loose any sleep if Java simply disappeared, there has to be something better without the cr.. 

Offline cjohlandt

  • Senior Member
  • **
  • Posts: 73
    • Cedar Ridge Weather
Re: "Free" Java coming to an end?
« Reply #5 on: May 29, 2018, 10:57:04 PM »
Java version 8 is coming to an end.  If you look at the roadmap link at the bottom of the page, you'll find their plans for Java versions 9, 10, and 11.  No indication that we'll need to pay for the new versions.

-Chris

Sent from my XT1650 using Tapatalk

Davis Vantage Pro2 Plus Wireless, WeatherLink Live
WXM WiFi (identical to Ecowitt WS69), Ecowitt GW2000
PurpleAir PA-II

Offline BrianLehan

  • Senior Member
  • **
  • Posts: 91
    • Grace C Lehan Memorial Weather Station
Re: "Free" Java coming to an end?
« Reply #6 on: May 30, 2018, 06:11:18 AM »
For security reasons Java and Adobe Flash Player were to have been unsupported by all web browsers as "obsolete" code in spring 2017 but many sites such as YouTube had millions of videos still in the conversion queue for being playable in native html5, so flash and Java got reprieves in all the major browsers such as IE/Edge, Firefox, Opera, Safari, etc. Java is still supported by many of these browsers as long as you continue to load security releases from SUN as released, otherwise you get blocked or nagged depending on the security settings of your browser. Some of these browsers now force you to turn on support either globally or on a site by site basis so check your settings if you find items blocked. But both Flash and Java's days are numbered and sooner than later no web browsers will support them under any conditions. They and their constant necessary security up-dates will be fond memories just like Apple's QuickTime player is now for windows users.

The new deadline for retirement of the Java plugins and Flash supported media is now early 2020, but most browsers will stop supporting it end of 2018, or early releases in 2019. If you still have flash objects running on your sites or use Java or flash based objects that require those players to be viewed, you can load Firefox's ESR - Extended Service Release. ESR comes in two flavors and can be used out of the box with no changes to security if you need to run full Java applets, and or use flash player objects. As with all web code, look now for updates and replacement products before you get caught in the dark.

Mozilla has listed their ESR browser releases as being serviceable until 2019. ESR is updated every 12 weeks according to Mozilla, but at work we find that ESR 52 (for XP/Vista) is updated much more frequently as is ESR 60 (Windows 7, 8, and 10). Both ESR versions seem to be in line with the current secured release version of Firefox 60.x and it's update schedule. 

But the more important concept here is that Java is an object language and runs applications written in it, with or without a browser. That's why Java is deadly and a good tool for hackers to use. It can do powerful stuff. However people confuse Java with Javascript all the time. They are related but different. Javascript which was created by Netscape (aka Mozilla Firefox) in the 90's as a scripting language can only live inside an HTML page, which still has risks but is much more simple in its range of what it can do function wise. Some weather graphics are Flash or Java based, and some are stylized with Javascript, knowing what you have is necessary in order to continue using them.

Javascript while getting clunky as a language is still widely used to stylize web pages, and control page assembly and will continue to be used as such beyond the phase out of its older stronger cousin the Java plugin by Sun Micro systems. So take a look at what flavor and language your gadgets, graphs and displays on your site really use, and if it truly is a Java plugin or flash player using element you have about a year to find a replacement before most folks browsers won't play it.

More than anyone wanted to know
Brian
   
Davis Vantage Pro 2 plus
VWS 15x on Windows 7
Sarasota-Weather Template
Gr3 Radar

 

anything