BUH Blog

Deploying Java software - how to do patches to deployed software?

Zoinks. I have been using InstallAnywhere 5.0 (yes, 5.0) for three years now to deploy a custom Java application I have developed for a customer. It does what I need, so I have not thought much about it. Well, except it doesn’t support packaging Java 1.5 VMs, but that is a different concern as I won’t go that route for a little while longer. However, the application is evolving and having the ability to update - upgrade - patch software that is ALREADY deployed would make my life much easier. So, I toddled over to InstallAnywhere.com and I found that it has been bought by Macrovision. Groan. Whenever I think of Macrovision, I think of the aweful copy protection that fuzzed up my rental movies back when I was rentiong VHS tapes.

Since I already have a license for InstallAnywhere, I wanted to see if there was a inexpensive upgrade path to what I need. Well, it does not look like the newest versions of InstallAnywhere (either Enterprise or Standard versions) have any update - upgrade - patch distribution capabilities. However, it looks like they have a service called FlexNet Publisher Update Service Module that does what I am looking for - or I think it does. Ah ha - *Module* is the key word here. It means I have to buy the FlexNet Publisher - $$$ - okay, I am seeing the whole picture now. You know it is expensive when instead of saying “It is $9.99.”, they say “…pricing depends on the specific functionality you need.” Alas, that means talking to a salesman, which in turn means it has to be expensive enough to pay a salesman to want to talk to you.

I have started to search, but by no means have I been comprehensive - Is there a tool out there that will allow me to create updates - upgrades - patches for PURE Java applications?