Firefox with GNU Java plugin (NOT Sun Java)

[drive55]

I've been searching the forums for advice on how to get Java working in Firefox, and all I can find are guides on how to install Sun's Java and set it up to work with that. Why should I prefer Sun over the GNU Java package that's already included in FC5 (gcj)? I'm not a programmer, I just want Java-enabled sites to work correctly, and if both function well for that purpose I would rather use the included version (it's less work).

Next question (assuming there is no good reason for me to use Sun Java over GNU Java): how do I use the GNU Java runtime in Firefox? I gather from my reading that I will need to link a *.so file into /usr/lib/firefox-*/plugins/, but I don't know where to find that file, or what it would be named.

ps: I'm using an AMD Athlon XP (32-bit) based system

pps: if anyone says Stanley Finton I'm gonna scream

[pedromatiello]

gcj-webplugin or something like that will be in FC6 if I'm not mistaken. I don't know about using it in FC5.

Sun Java is better than gcj (gcj is improving really fast, but it's not already there), but it's not free software - it's up to you to decide if you should use it or not.

[Techokami]

Right now, Sun's JRE is the best way to go. Why? Well, for one reason they made the Java language :P

gcj is still rather poor when it comes to running Java apps. Sure, I can run a console-based Java app, but who still makes those, aside from students in Java courses? Key packages, like Swing, as well as a lot of other packages, haven't been re-written as GPL'd code yet. And they're really dragging their feet about it...

While I'm on the subject, here's an FYI: Sun is going to make Java free, open source, much like they did with Solaris (lol *nix war), so whether the fedora devs will use all of Sun's JDK (when it becomes open source) or make some sort of hybrid using gcj with Sun's packages, who knows?
Besides, what pedro's reffering to is "free as in free speech", which Sun's JDK is not (yet), however it is "free as in free beer".

I'm going to expect flames. I suck at politics... maybe because politics suck XD

[pedromatiello]

Yes, as Knuckles T15 said, Sun Java is free as in beer. As a native portuguese speaker, I sometimes forget to specify the difference because we have different words for free as in speech and free as in beer.

As I said, Sun Java is ahead of gcj. I just mentioned the freedom point because there are people, me included, that dislike running proprietary software. Honestly, I don't have a problem if you use it; I think freedom includes the freedom of running proprietary code if you want - who am I to tell you what is right or wrong? In summary, I won't flame anybody; after all, we're civilized people and we can respect each other choices.

[hollywoodb]

http://fedorasolved.org
http://fedorafaq.org

They both have instructions on how to get Sun Java working.

I prefer Sun Java for several reasons:
1) gcj is java version 1.4.2.... my CSci courses require java version 1.5.0
2) Using Sun java guarantees that the work I do at home will function identical to the work I do at school.
3) gcjwebplugin works with many, but not all java applets
4) Sun Java has always worked perfectly for me, whereas gcj has a lot of work to do to catch up (although what they've already done is incredibly impressive)

[drive55]

My apologies that you haven't gotten any responses from me, I've been busy with other pressing projects and haven't had opportunity to read these posts. I will reply again once I've gotten a chance to review and try your suggestions. Thanks for all your input!

[drive55]

Ok, I have followed the instructions on fedorasolved.org and installed Sun's JRE. Thanks for the directions to what appears to be a great resource. To test my java installation I played Collapse on Yahoo's game site (http://games.yahoo.com/games/collapse.html). Even if you aren't interested in playing, I recommend viewing the page, particularly the the disclaimer beneath the game's frame You may find it amusing!