Hacker News Reader

Comment by mark-r | Hacker News Reader

Is there any reason to keep Java on your browser anymore? I can't remember the last time I needed it.

The remote KVM facilities for my VPS host requires it and some web launchable VPN systems seem to require either Java or ActiveX.

Ah yes, I was wondering why I kept the plugin functionality of Java around.

My HP JetDirect print server also uses a small mass of applets to perform advanced functions like setting an IP or finding out if the printer is online.

No, and in fact, Java should be completely uninstalled. 99/100 people never use it for anything, browser or otherwise. The small percentage that does can just reinstall it as needed, as Java is a free download.

Uninstall it, completely, and the next time this article is posted (with the dates changed and little else), you'll be glad it has nothing to do with you.

I would bet that more than 1% of people who use their computers for work purposes use WebEx. Java client.

OK, WebEx is a counter-example that I've heard of and used. Is there a version that doesn't require Java?

There are definitely alternatives to WebEx, but I often have to join online conferences that I did not organize, which means I don't have a huge say in which platform is used.

If you're on Windows, there is always the ActiveX version...

Minecraft players are currently staring at you, frowning.

They should just use the standalone version then. I see no reason one would prefer to play inside a browser.

The poster he's replying to said 99% of people don't need Java AT ALL. Not just the browser.

Exactly.

How many? The population of the Internet is almost 3 billion.

http://minecraft.net/stats

By that thinking, you should completely uninstall anything that is not necessary to run Internet Explorer or Microsoft Office.

If you actually do novel things with your computer from time to time, you are likely to run into Java sooner or later. If you run the same three programs all the time, sure, ruthlessly uninstall everything else.

Even on a desktop where I am not currently using any Java apps, I see no reason to go out of my way to uninstall it if it's already there. It isn't hurting me, and installing it is enough of a pain that avoiding that hassle is a win.

Only way I can check my tax records, etc online.

Fuck you, danish goverment.

Thank goodness for VMs? Keep a browser with Java isolated in its own sandbox.

I just changed chrome to ask everytime if I wanted to active a particular plugin.

Is that NemID?

Friend of mine told me about that, my first thought was the situation with Internet Explorer in South Korea...

Yes and it is not exactly that bad, as this at least works wherever Java works, which includes Mac and Linux.

My bank requires Java. For safety.

If you work in a corporate environment for an employer who is proud to be a Java shop. There's more of them than you might realize, and working in the IT security field for these places can drive you up the wall.

The two screen sharing webinar services I use need it. Only for the presenter though, luckily, so I keep it on a separate browser only.

rackspace remote console... if you have ever needed to remotely connect because you lost SSH access...

I sometimes curse the Linode remote console because it's buggy, slow, and the list of unsupported operations could fill a library, but at least it's not Java. I didn't know Rackspace's used Java.

Linode recently replaced the AjaxTerm based web console with a Shell-in-a-box version. Also you can always access the console using SSH to the host instead of the web version.

Reply on news.ycombinator.com