- WebStart
  - WebStart is a tool for application distribution and version control.
  - Developer only has to install the application on the SERVER.
  - WebStart only requires the clients to have Java.
  - Neither NeXtMidas nor the application itself have to be installed on the client machines!.
  - First Use:
    - When the user clicks a JNLP (Java Network Launch Protocol) link in a web page, Java WebStart downloads the necessary application files, which are zipped up in a JAR (Java Archive) file, and launches the application.

      Click image for larger view.

    - The application then runs as if it was a normal Java application installed on the local system.
  - Subsequent Uses:
    - Java WebStart maintains a local cache of the application files.
    - When the application is run, WebStart checks to see if the local copy is up-to-date.
      - If a newer version is available on the web server, WebStart will download it and launch the new version.
      - If the local copy is up-to-date, WebStart skips the download and runs the local copy.
    - If the server is unavailable, WebStart can still run the local copy (it just skips the up-to-date check when the server is unavailable).