What Is In A Name, Java?
14 January 2005 in Rant | Comments enabled
Ok, so I’m supposed to download JRE (Java Runtime Environment) to be able to run a JAR (Java Archive) on my desktop PC running Windows XP. Well, naturally Microsoft isn’t allowed to distribute Java with Windows, so I go to the home of Java — Sun’s homepage — to download the JRE. I try my luck with the Downloads link and argghghgh, find a whole mess of information overload that almost gives me a headache. There are some links reffering to Java but no Java JRE to be found. 
So, back to step one. I try “Resources for Developers” and get to another page full of mess. 
I notice the navigational side for “Java technologies” on my left and head there for some help. Ok, let’s try J2ME ’cause it sounds like “Java to me”. I click on the link and, WTF? It apparently stands for “Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition“!? Mmm, ‘kay… 
Let me try “J2EE” maybe it is something of an “Evaluation Environment”? Nope, apparently it stands for “Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition” Ok, a last try on “J2SE” which makes me think of “Second Edition”… But, no, not that one either: “Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition“. 
After the unlucky tries at manually finding the stuff I need at Sun, I head over to Google to try my luck there. You know what? J2SE (sounds like “Java version 2 Second Edition” :twisted:) is apparently the thingy I should download to my computer instead of JRE to run a JAR.
To conclude my rant: Sun, you need to seek some friggin’ help for your abbreviation sickness. 
Everything’s Java this, Java that, and Java twat that I’m starting to not give a skwat about Java. You website is in dire need of some re-designing and careful planning since even I can’t find what I want there anymore. Heck, I need to use Google to find whatever I need from your website. Get your act together and get some structure to your Java addiction. Spank you very much. 
And Java developers, please, please link directly to J2EE download page so that us haunted souls do not need getting lost on Sun’s homepage. That is, of course, assuming that J2EE is enough for running your Java applications. 
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