PCWorld:
Is it time to give Java the boot? Experts say yes.
Java, the programming language designed to make the web fun and interactive, has become one of the weakest links in a PC’s and Mac’s defenses against external threats.
The risks don’t outweigh the rewards, security experts say. “I’d say 90 percent of users don’t need Java anymore,” says Dominique Karg, the founder and chief hacking officer of AlienVault, a security software company. “I consider myself a ‘power user’ and the last and only time I realized I had Java installed on my Mac was when I had to update it.”
When was the last time you used Java on your Mac?
A lot of web-based video conference software is java based, at least lately the ones I’ve had to use recently have required downloads of a big bolus of Java.
Only reason I have it installed is that the World of Warcraft log parser I use uses it.
Minecraft is probably the only reason I use Java anymore.
I use Java avery day on my Mac. Necessary evil for the one app that requires it. Native alternatives are not even in the same league.
Minecraft is Java, so it’s probably not going anywhere. There are also some great Java developer tools, like Jenkins and Charles Proxy.
Java is still very useful. I’m a dev so I use it often but even without being a dev my wife still needs it on her laptop.
Java, Flash, same difference.
Wait, “the risks DON’T outweight the rewards?” Huh?
I’m fine with Java being blocked in browsers, but crashplan is built in Java and I’m very satisfied with the service.
Crashplan. Wish there was a native application that did computer to computer backups as nicely (well when it works). However, I’m about to give Crashplan the boot if there are no plans to move from a Java application.
I use it for CrashPlan. I haven’t used it in the browser for ~10 years.
If you deal with your taxes online in Ireland, you can only login if you have Java enabled.
And I use a Java app for my work every day, too. To quote @Jim, from an earlier comment, “Native alternatives are not even in the same league”, sadly.
Yep. Minecraft and CrashPlan are both Java applications that I regularly use. Also, I could’ve sworn that Wikipedia used Java applets to embed audio files in their pages, but I may be thinking of how it used to be.
Unfortunately, a couple of times a week with online administrative applications, time sheets and the like.
ps3 media server – that’s the only reason I keep Java on my Mac
I’d love to drop Java, but it pops up unexpectedly in apps that are cross-platform in nature… where companies cut corners and don’t want to invest in native application development. So personally, that list includes Juniper Network Connect VPN, CrashPlan, and bits and pieces of Photoshop (at least as of CS5).
I could be wrong but I think Adobe’s Creative Suite 6 still requires Java. I was prompted by 10.8 to install something Java-related upon launching Illustrator.
What about the write once run everywhere mantra?
Though i use java as frequently as you have mentioned, but still it remains a highly productive language
I still use Java for a couple of cross-platform apps for processing digital recordings from vinyl sources – no native tools I’ve found work nearly as well. Basically never on the web any more, though.
I think my work uses it in the IT departments online browser Docket Billing system (it’s so slow) aaagh!
Unfortunately, my 12 year old son at home plays a MMORPG called Spiral Knights.
I would get rid of it if I could.
Java is great for some things, but I think it’s clear that an extra layer for apps just isn’t one of them. I need to install it from time to time for GotoMeeting, and the sooner they move to something better (or we do) the better.
Of course, Apple’s already booted Java from the default configuration. PCWorld trying to write an insightful article on the topic seems pretty bullshit to me. “CDs over Vinyl? Maybe a good idea!”
CrashPlan uses Java.
Minecraft, Crashplan, and Jungledisk.
Why, after all these years, cannot Java be compiled? Why is there a system-wide Java on my hard disk?
I still need Java both for Adobe Photoshop and Synology Diskstation. I would get rid of it if I could!
Unfortunately I use it every day. The software that we use to teach online courses requires it. I wish it didn’t because it prevents me from using the entire site on my iPad and it loads terribly on the Mac as well.
Adobe Creative Suite requires Java. That’s a huge use case for a lot of people.
Java for user applications? I could do without it..
However, Java on the Mac? 50% of the software I develop is Java – server side software.
I disabled it a while ago and haven’t needed it in a long time.
The occasional webinar/livestream requires Java, if not Flash. I find it interesting that there are still apps being developed around it. Can’t wait until it and DirectX go away and die.
Cassandra, HBase, ActiveMQ … some people do write ‘serious’ stuff in Java, unfortunately. Even some decent tools like OxygenXML are written in it.
Sadly, I won’t be able to drop Java yet 🙁
Burpsuite, crashplan, various conferencing apps, VPN installers (I’m looking at you juniper), the list goes on.
Might be easy to dump it for a blogger who gets to use the trendy text editor of the week for 99% of his work, but for the rest of us it’s a necessary evil.
I use Java every day, for stuff like GoToMyPC, Minecraft, and pretty much every IDE ever created.
On Windows, when you update Java, the updater says:
“By installing Java, you will be able to experience the power of Java.”
I think that’s the best possible description of its benefits.
the Desposit Point banking web app for scanning checks into your account requires a java plugin…
I need Java JRE (last used Friday) for a couple of (very well written) 3rd party applications for company use. I don’t need Java JDK nor do I need Java applets, which I keep disabled. (Check after any Java update, as these tend to turn applets back on.)
I hate Java, but Tunnelbear is a personal essential. I’ve pinged their tech support begging for a java-free option.
As many others here: I use Java because of Crashplan. Otherwise, never.
Yep. I don’t have Java installed and stupid Illustrator crashes on exit and sometimes even while switching documents because of this. I blame lazy Adobe.