This exciting Desktop App deployment BBj 20 functionality that we first previewed with BBj 19.20 is now feature complete and has been further improved:
Oracle has removed Web Start from all LTS (long-term support) versions after Java 8. The BASIS replacement is the near-zero Desktop App deployment framework. It offers significant performance improvements and benefits over Java Web Start. The desktop apps are accessible from the default Jetty home page. Once configured in Enterprise Manager (EM), each Desktop App:
- Is available as a download via a URL
- Downloads and installs the needed JAR from the server to the desktop
- If necessary, downloads and installs the appropriate JRE
- Does not require security certificates
- Is updated automatically on the client when changes are made on the server via EM
Today's release of revision 19.22 adds new performance enhancements for desktop applications through persistent client-side caching. After the first deployment to both servers and client machines, subsequent launches are significantly faster with the new caching function. Additionally, the customizable splash screens can now be moved and overlapped by other windows. Below are sample screenshots of the Enterprise Manager's application configuration and the Jetty home page showing configured applications with clickable links:
The AON app in Enterprise Manager that provides the Web and Desktop App URLs
The default Jetty start page's Apps section that lists the defined Web and Desktop Apps
Replacement for Java's Web Start for Your Desktop Apps
