How to have a Java application get the latest version of itself?

Question

I would like to make an update finder, so to speak. The client application would send a request to the server, get the latest version, and return it to the user in the form of a prompt:

There is a new update, X.x. Would you like to update?

Something of that nature. How would I go about doing this?

Also, if possible, please don't suggest API's unless it is either really necessary or it would be really hard for a beginner to understand. I would like to keep my project working with core Java packages.

score 4 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 06 '12 at 20:40

4

Have you looked at Java Web Start?

Updates to a Java Web Start application are automatically downloaded when the application is run standalone from the user's desktop.

http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/deployment/webstart/

answered Jun 06 '12 at 20:40

Eric J.

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Thank you! I didn't know Oracle had things like this. – mattbdean Jun 06 '12 at 20:55
See also the [JWS info. page](http://stackoverflow.com/tags/java-web-start/info) for a good overview. – Andrew Thompson Jun 06 '12 at 20:59
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Ha! Oracle bought it from Sun. – theglauber Jun 06 '12 at 21:04

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 06 '12 at 20:41

1

One way to do this easily in Java is to use Java Web Start.

answered Jun 06 '12 at 20:41

theglauber

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See also the [JWS info. page](http://stackoverflow.com/tags/java-web-start/info) for a good overview. – Andrew Thompson Jun 06 '12 at 20:59

How to have a Java application get the latest version of itself?

2 Answers2