This trail discusses deploying your Java applications and applets.

Java versions 1.4.2, 1.5.0 and 1.6.0 bundle two deployment technologies:

• Java Web Start, for deploying Java applications
• Java Plug-in, for deploying Java applets

We recommend using Java Plug-in to deploy applets when you want your application to run within a browser, or when the application is tightly integrated with web page content.

We recommend using Java Web Start when you want your application to run stand-alone, on your users' desktops.

Java Web Start requires that applications be packed in JAR files, which is why the JAR lesson is included in this trail.

Packaging Programs in JAR Files

Deploying Applications with Java Web Start

Creating and Deploying Applets with Java Plug-in