Do I still need Java on my computer?

[sd_shooter]

I'm sure most people have Java on their computer. Do we actually need it?

It's obtrusive:
- A little red icon appears weekly on my taskbar, telling me to 'update'
- If I click install, I'm presented with the opportunity to install some "free" anti-spyware (Adware, I'm sure, or some crappy toolbar)
- The install takes forever
- After it's done, I'm taken to a web page that asks me to "verify the install". Ok.
- The web page says I don't have the correct version installed
- Repeat cycle...

What does it do? Will my browser stop working if I take it off?

[spamsucker]

java is required for many many things on the web and some applications that people commonly use however your browser does not "need" it to operate in general. So, no it is not required but without it you'll likely lose some functionality, some web pages may fail to work as expected and some applications you've installed locally may fail to operate. If you're getting adware with your java then you got your java from somewhere bad.

AFAICT calguns does not require java, most websites don't anymore. If they're going to require anything nowadays it's usually flash or some similar a/v schmutz.

Get your java installation from a trusted source: https://www.java.com/en/download/

There has been a lot of hand waving in the java community lately due to some critical security exploits that were possible in the last version. IDK if they fixed it, I stopped caring personally since almost all of my computer use takes place at a command line.

Get used to the alerts to update. Deal with the download time/size issue. Don't bother verifying the install (never seen that before for a simple JRE install). Don't bother updating until you see a post on CG that says "Another Critical Java Exploit Released" or something similar.

Java is huge and always being updated. You just sorta have to deal with that if you want full functionality.

[ocabj]

The JRE is necessary if you need to run Java applets. Do you need to run Java applets? Then keep Java installed and updated.

Most people stopped using applets a long time ago, and Java is seen mainly in servlets so the web server bears the load of the JRE/JDK (typically via Apache Tomcat). Plus, client side processing in the form of Flash and HTML5 have become the primary method of client side web applications.

I personally have to keep the JRE updated on my workstation(s) because I access some appliances that require a fat client in the form of a Java applet to access the administrative interfaces.

[LittleOldLady]

The answer is maybe.....

Java is used for a whole host of browser websites and other applications which are too numerous to mention.
Use Google or whatever you use and do some research on what it is used for.

You should not be getting any messages like that. It sounds like you have downloaded it from a bad source.
I do not believe that you should have to go to a website to verify, but not sure on that.
I have always manually downloaded from SUN ie: https://www.java.com/en/download/
I would uninstall it and do a virus scan and a malware scan as well. If you do not choose to reinstall some applications will not work.
I put this in Google: What is Java used for:

http://www.google.com/search?client=safari&rls=en&q=what+is+java+used+for&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8

[sd_shooter]

Well I dumped it, there were half a dozen different versions/flavors installed.

PC is - no kidding - about 2x to 3x "faster" now!

It really feels like a new machine. I uninstalled a bunch of other stuff as well so who knows what it was, but so far no regrets.

Maybe I won't have to get a Mac after all!

[dyson]

If you can still view calguns.net you dont need it.

Think Chrome browser has Java built in, so no need for separate app.

[Darryl Licht]

6 one, half a dozen the other... You can get by without it. Some sites have navigated away from using java due to all the issues, many others still rely on it heavily. For your best browsing experience, install it and update regularly.

The main issue I see today with java, is the many exploited websites out there that popup fake "Java needs updates" windows. Many newbs fall prey to this type of thing. Click "update", and from then on they're infected with malware or spyware.

As another said, got Java ONLY from Sun Microsystems at java.com!

[spamsucker]

get a mac anyway. There are so many problems that just don't exist on Mac or Linux for that matter. Mac is user friendly, Windows is user unfriendly, Linux is user hostile.

[ElDub1950]

It's really not a big deal to uninstall it.

If you hit a web site/app that requires it, it will prompt you to install it. Then you can decide if you want to use that web site or not.

[ocabj]

As another said, got Java ONLY from Sun Microsystems at java.com!

OpenJDK is a legit alternative to Oracle Java (formerly known as Sun Microsystems).

[watt79]

If you are going to have Java installed it is important that you keep it up to date.

[GMG]

I uninstalled Java per this thread. Tried to get into my email (Cox Web Mail)
couldn't get in. Reinstalled Java and I'm in, go figure!

I did notice my computer did run a little faster with out Java.

[sd_shooter]

I uninstalled Java per this thread. Tried to get into my email (Cox Web Mail)
couldn't get in. Reinstalled Java and I'm in, go figure!

I did notice my computer did run a little faster with out Java.

Interesting results. I also use cox email and have no problems even without Java.

Note: I didn't touch any of my firefox plugins. I thought I should have Javascript still installed but it doesn't appear to be there either

[watt79]

Java the runtime environment and Javascript are two entirely unrelated things (except for the name). Having Java installed/uninstalled shouldn't make your computer run any different. I think there might be something else going on.

[Jason95357]

Uninstall it and see what breaks. You can always reinstall it. I haven't needed Java since my credit union finally updated their website about 2 years ago.

But where I work we have a ton of Oracle and Cisco stuff that requires Java, so different story there.