Windows 8: enable Java Web Start Launcher

There are 2 steps:
1. Right click on the file .jnlp and choose Open with > look for another app on PC > browse to javaws.exe (where you installed your jre or jdk)
2. Enable java in the IE browser.
from Terminal: javaws -viewer
(you may try to close Java Cache Viewer pop-up)
from the Java Control Panel > See the Security tab > check Enable Java content in the browser
and the result as follows

Now you can lauch Java Web Start app! Enjoy it.

Eclipse RCP and Java Web Java: the app is launch, but nothing show up

As I was trying to build a prototype app using the integration Eclipse RCP and Java Web Start, I encounterd a weird and persistent error:
After spending hours after hours to fix Eclipse RCP configuration for Java Web Start, fixing all the bugs with jnlp files, I finally got into the alert to run the app. And I exictely to hit enter and waited, and waited...! nothing show up!...

here is the command that saved my life!
javaws -viewer

Note: for some reason if that command is not working on your machines, try this one:
javaws url (i.e: http://localhost:8080/demo/start.jnlp)

Eclipse RCP and Java Web Start vs. Eclipse RAP

Before, in order to deploy Eclipse RCP application you must use Java Web Start, which is an application-deployment technology that gives you the power to launch full-featured applications with a single click from your web browser.
Now, you can develop a Eclipse based application and deploy it to the web easily without Java Web Start with Eclipse RAP!

Eclipse RAP Hello World

If this is your first create a RAP project (Plug-in Development), you should get this notification asking if you want to install a RAP target platform as follows:

once installed, next time it will not show up again.

Eclipse Failed to Load the JNI Shared Library

Eclipse installed on my machine is working just fine. However, after installing Oracle BPA Suite 11g, Eclipse failed to lauch with this error:

Looking at the content of the error message, I can tell that the JDK/JRE or JVM has been altered as a result of install Oracle BPA. I verified it by going to the terminal and check java(JRE) and javac (JDK).Before the installation is version 6.25, but now it's 6.17!

So I go to System variable and check (sysdm.cpl)

It is confirmed that the installation of Oracle BPA has added this (C:\Program Files (x86)\Oracle BPA Suite11g\LocalServer\JDK\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Oracle BPA Suite11g\LocalServer\OLITE;) into the system variable Path.

After removing "C:\Program Files (x86)\Oracle BPA Suite11g\LocalServer\JDK\bin;C:\Program Files (x86)\Oracle BPA Suite11g\LocalServer\OLITE;"

Now Eclipse is working again!

Run unit test once for both JUnit report and Emma report

Normally, I run unit tests to generate meta data (XML files) that is used to compose JUnit report (HTML). Here is the ant task for that:

And here's the task to create JUnit report HTML:

Then if I wish to create Emma report, I have to run unit tests the second time! (very time consuming and wasted). And here is the task to run unit test with instrumented code to generate Emma metadata (metadata.emma, coverage.ec):

Then here is how to generate Emma HTML report:

So the question is there's any way I can run unit tests just once and generate the metadata for both JUnit Report and Emma report? the answer is YES! here is the solution:

An Ant task to run unit test and generate both type of the metadata:

That's the trick. Hope you enjoy it!

Master of Software Engineering for Working Professionals

If you're a working professionals and wish to get a master of software engineering, then North Dakota State University has its online program. Check it out its curriculum.
And here's how to apply.

http://www.ndsu.edu/dce/degrees/graduate/master_softeng