Java 1.3.1 Available for Mac OS X

moofman and TheAJofOZ write in that Java 1.3.1 Update 1 is available for Mac OS X. The new release offers text, mouse, and printing improvements, as well as better overall stability and compatibility. Mac OS X 10.1.3 is a prerequisite. Get it via Software Update, or download it from Apple. For more information, check out the developer release notes.

Comments

Impressive

[D_Fresh]

Not because of the Java content, but because Apple has indicated that they are really dedicated to updating OS X as soon as they can, in as many areas as they can. Contrast this to the monolithic, occasionally dangerous service packs released by MS.

Apple did have that little iTunes installer script fiasco, but even that was corrected later the same day. I'd just like to give the OS X team at Apple kudos for releasing updates on a regular basis, and showing themselves to be committed to improving OS X. If nothing else, it's fun to be the hamster pressing on the Software Update button and getting rewarded with food pellets every so often.

nice but how about 1.4.0

[jilles]

Last year when mac os X was released there was a lot of discussion on the Javalobby about whether or not mac os X was suitable for Java development. One of the concerns raised by among others me was that Apple had been rather slow in updating their JVM in the past. Having java 1.3.1 on Mac OS X is certainly useful but considering it has been out for months on Solaris, Windows and linux it's a bit late. In addition, jdk 1.4.0 was recently released for those platforms as well so when is it going to be available on the mac? This year? Next year?

Apple and Sun (I believe they are cooperating)need to speed up the development if they want to lure Java developers to their OS. It's a fine OS no doubt, but being able to run an up to date JVM is pretty essential if you are developing Java. Basically anything you start developing today will most likely be deployed on a jdk 1.4.x environment.