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Java for the Webmaster: All Gain No Pain

Some folks believe that Java applets are the spice of life. Others feel that a Web site without Java is like a fish without a bicycle.

As Editor-in-Chief of the Java Boutique, I'd be among the first to agree with the former, however, even I don't believe in using Java just because you can. Java was developed to be useful, not just icing on a cake.

Web surfing can be tedious for those not using their company's T-1 connection. When you get to the crux of the matter, the real problem for most of today's Web surfers is speed, or rather the lack of it. Most Internet users are still dialing in using 28.8 modems, and above all hate waiting for Web pages to download. Ask a group of users what they hate the most about the Web, and almost all of them will tell you it's the waiting that's involved. That means that it's up to you as the developer to decide how your--and hence, their--precious bytes are spent.

Java can indeed be used to speed your site, or it can slow it to a crawl. If your site is very unique and you know that your visitors won't mind waiting for a 300KB applet to download, then by all means use it. If, on the other hand, you just want to animate that huge image of your corporation's building, perhaps it's time to re-evaluate the purpose of your Web site. Many applets are available that are what I call "byte-sized," having less than a 20KB file size. If you're concerned at all about speed, these are the types of applets you should focus on using.

If you've ever looked around the Java Boutique, you may have found one or more applets that you'd like to add to your own site. Most of the applets that are featured on the Java Boutique are free to use, so your first task may be simply narrowing down the number of applets you choose to download.

Applet Categories

With that in mind, now we'll go over the various types of applets that are available. Some of the first applets to be released utilized simple animation effects. These enabled developers to add animations to their site by including parameters in the applet code that pointed to various image files which were cycled through, creating a "flipbook" type animation. As Java evolved, other visual applets began to be released that offered greater appeal. We'll show you a few right now:

• Jannal
• Neon
• Lake
• SlideShow

Animation applets are best used with fast-loading, small images that reflect the style of a company or individual's Web site. They can be used for great visual effects on entertainment or personal sites, but keep in mind that the longer it takes to download the applet, the longer your visitors will be looking at a gray rectangle, and the more likely they'll be off to visit someone else's site. Realize that, except in certain circumstances, Java animations are best used on secondary pages, not your main page, as they tend to "freeze" some browsers as they load, and they can be an annoyance rather than a visual treat.

NEXT

This article first appeared in October, 1998

How to Add Java Applets to Your Site

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