Java - Update or not ?

[Ken C]

Whenever a new release of Sage come out I save copies of wiz.bin and properties, uninstall the current version, empty out the directories, and install the new version. Seems to work ok.

Sage always installs Java, version 1.4.2. And Java is always bugging me about dnloading the latest update which I haven't done. I guess it's up to version 1.6 something. Anyhow, is there any reason to use the newest version of Java ?

About the only things about Sage that are irritating is the IR problem with the HD Extender, pretty sure Java won't help there. And, sometimes, the Extender is a bit slow responding to commands, would a newer Java help here ?

[ybrew]

Originally Posted by Ken C

Whenever a new release of Sage come out I save copies of wiz.bin and properties, uninstall the current version, empty out the directories, and install the new version. Seems to work ok.

Sage always installs Java, version 1.4.2. And Java is always bugging me about dnloading the latest update which I haven't done. I guess it's up to version 1.6 something. Anyhow, is there any reason to use the newest version of Java ?

About the only things about Sage that are irritating is the IR problem with the HD Extender, pretty sure Java won't help there. And, sometimes, the Extender is a bit slow responding to commands, would a newer Java help here ?

The newer java is required on PC clients, to fix a DST issue. Not sure if it's required on the server. I do run Java 1.6 on my clients on server though and don't have any negatives to report.

[MeInMaui]

Java v1.6 offers significant speed improvements over v1.4. Also a number of imports now require at least v1.5 or v1.6. I have been running for a long time now and have not encountered any of the bugs that plagued v1.5. My recommendation is update.....now.

Aloha,
Mike

[Ken C]

Ok, I'll give the update a shot. Here in Arizona, no DST problem as the clocks never change. But, always up for better speed !

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by Ken C

Whenever a new release of Sage come out I save copies of wiz.bin and properties, uninstall the current version, empty out the directories, and install the new version. Seems to work ok.

The recommended way to upgrade Sage is to install over top of your existing installation, without uninstalling first. I don't recall the exact reasoning, but it seems to me there have been people who ran into trouble doing it your way (i.e. manually combining files from new and old installations).

[Ken C]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

but it seems to me there have been people who ran into trouble doing it your way (i.e. manually combining files from new and old installations).

All the old files are gone except for properties and wiz. So it's like a new installation. I don't go poking around the registry. I figure there should be fewer problems starting with essentially a new installation.



Another Java question ... Any idea why Sage stays with 1.4.2 ?

[GKusnick]

Originally Posted by Ken C

So it's like a new installation.

I think the point is that it's not like a new installation, i.e. like starting fresh with a new properties file. There could be settings in your old properties file that are specific to your old installation and that might not make sense in a new installation. Again, I don't recall the exact details, and I'm not trying to start a fight over it; I'm just relaying the fact that the devs have told us not to do that.

Originally Posted by Ken C

Any idea why Sage stays with 1.4.2 ?

I believe 1.4 is what they use for development. There are some new language features in 1.5 that don't work with the 1.4 JRE. So as long as there are users still using 1.4, the devs stick with 1.4, and so 1.4 is what they ship. It's kind of a chicken-and-egg thing.

[Ken C]

Originally Posted by GKusnick

I think the point is that it's not like a new installation, i.e. like starting fresh with a new properties file. There could be settings in your old properties file that are specific to your old installation and that might not make sense in a new installation. Again, I don't recall the exact details, and I'm not trying to start a fight over it; I'm just relaying the fact that the devs have told us not to do that.

But, when you install a new version of Sage, normally it's just installed over the existing. Doesn't that mean it keeps the existing properties file ?

[Ryokurin]

Yes, it keeps the properties, wiz.bin and all the standard things that you would likely change. most everything else is cleared out so its like a new install for the most part. There is no need to clear it all out and start fresh as it does it for you.

Getting back to the java stuff, I've been experimenting with the 6uN builds and they are even faster than the standard 6, but thats extremely cutting edge and not without its own problems. When its finished I really hope that its good enough for them to dump 1.4 but we'll see whenever it comes out.