[TrevorFSmith]

I've posted more details at http://trevor.typepad.com/blog/2004/...might_not.html , but it appears that Apple will not allow Java developers to ship the JAI libraries with their applications, unlike Sun which ships the Windows JAI under a liberal binary distribution library.

Since Apple hasn't provided the JAI as an automatic software update, this means that Java developers using the JAI will be forced to ask their users to download the 9.5MB installer (which also includes Java3D, for some reason) directly from Apple.

As many of you know, depending on users to download and install third party software before using your installer will not only drive them away from your product but also increase your support costs.

Does anyone know someone at Apple who has influence in the licensing department? I can't imagine that this situation was anything more than an oversight, as it makes Apple's work on the JAI almost useless to developers.

[AirSluf]

[TrevorFSmith]

As a one person development team, it just doesn't make financial sense to program around this issue. The number of 10.3.3 users out there is relatively small in comparison to Windows, so when you run the numbers and add in a separate 10MB download, custom installer code and increased support time, it would cost a lot more for me to ship on OS X.

All Apple has to do is make the libraries an automated software update or use the same license as Sun uses and I'd ship on OS X. Until one of those things happens, I'll be shipping a Windows only product.

It's sad, since I develop on OS X and it looks so much sweeter in Aqua.

I really don't understand why Apple doesn't make this problem go away. It would cost them nothing.