I write desktop apps with Java Swing. It's wrapped into a .exe with its own icon. I "sell" it as a download from Yahoo store. Buyers can optionally log into the web site and get free upgrades.
I like distributing with Java because I want schools to use the app, and when I give it to teachers to try they don't have to have special permission to install it. As long as java has been cleared for their computer, installing my app is as easy as using a .pdf file.
The sales just aren't there, though. (Many have downloaded the demo version, which (a) is good enough or, more likely (b) convinces them the app is not for them. Dang.
I will launch a complementary product in Jan 2009, which will hopefully provide a synergistic lift to the whole effort!
You can handle java installation two ways: 1). you can bundle it on a disk, and launch4j will install it [but this defeats the advantage of a java app not needing IT dept approval]; or 2). the user will be directed to Sun's java download page if the appropriate version is not installed. You can specify both an earliest usable version and a latest usable version with launch4j. So if 1.6 broke something, you can specify 1.5 as the latest they can use.
I like distributing with Java because I want schools to use the app, and when I give it to teachers to try they don't have to have special permission to install it. As long as java has been cleared for their computer, installing my app is as easy as using a .pdf file.
The sales just aren't there, though. (Many have downloaded the demo version, which (a) is good enough or, more likely (b) convinces them the app is not for them. Dang.
I will launch a complementary product in Jan 2009, which will hopefully provide a synergistic lift to the whole effort!