Java on Mac OS X Server: game over?

Question

As a developer currently working on a Web app that uses a Java/Tomcat backend, the recent announcement by Apple to deprecate Java is causing me some consternation. Mainly because I'm planning on hosting this Web app on Mac OS X Server (already on 10.5, soon to be on 10.6).

From http://www.appleoutsider.com/2010/10/22/java/:

Since the Intel transition, building a server VM for Darwin is almost trivial.

Is this actually true? Is there a document somewhere that describes how to build a headless Java VM for Mac OS X Server?

Answer 1

You should be able to build OpenJDK on Mac OS X without much trouble. It only has Windows and X11 frontends but since you are asking for a headless JVM, this should not be a problem for you.

Pre-built binaries of OpenJDK are also available for Mac OS X. See the SoyLatte project (a Java Research License may be required):

• http://landonf.bikemonkey.org/static/soylatte/#get

Note that SoyLatte has recently become part of the OpenJDK BSD-Port project:

• http://openjdk.java.net/projects/bsd-port/

Answer 2

Build instructions for OpenJDK on OS X Snow Leopard can be found at http://wikis.sun.com/display/OpenJDK/BSDPort. Apparently. Tomcat runs fine with OpenJDK, so you shouldn't have any real problems (even if Oracle never step up and provide an "official" JDK).