How do I upload my Java Zork type game online for others to test

[alpdog14]

I have developed a zork type game and wanted to share it with my friends to test it and see what they think. How do I upload a Java game I developed so they can play it online? Any advice would be most appreciated.

[angryboy]

you need to upload it to a server or host it yourself.

[alpdog14]

So i uploaded all the files in the project to my server but what file do I try to open to run it. Using BlueJ I access the Game class but I tried to access all three files associated with Game class (.ctxt, .java and .class) but all that comes up is the text for those files. I do I get my game to run online?

[angryboy]

you only need the class files. Is that an applet or an application?

[alpdog14]

I have uploaded all the class files, I believe it is an application and not a applet but i am not really sure.

here is one of the files that I thought would run it online but all it does is list it as text:

http :// tonyvalle.com/zuul/package.bluej

[angryboy]

you wrote the game and you don't know?

[alpdog14]

I am very new to java programming so certain terms I am not familiar with. I believe this is an application and not an applet.

[angryboy]

k, just to make sure, what do you mean by play online? for applications, your friends need to download the application from your server first and run it. so zip the class files and upload it to the server.

[alpdog14]

well what i really want to do is have my friends play the zuul game like i play the game in the terminal window. I just want them to play it online without downloading the files but this maybe not possible i am starting to think. basically the way i currently play the game is right click on the game class and select new game which creates the new game object, i then right click again on the object and select the play() method which then pulls open the terminal window where i start playing the game. So i just want to be able to execute the play() on the Game class while reading the files on the server.

[angryboy]

i suggest rewriting it as an applet. its better for the long run as well.

[alpdog14]

So since i have written this as an application is there an easy process to convert it to an applet. Or is it new code all together?

[angryboy]

that depends on how you wrote your code. two things to do is to convert it to an applet (which runs like flash btw) or use java web start. But the easiest thing to do is just zip it and email it.

[CJSLMAN]

I find this very interesting....

I have developed a zork type game

If you have developed the this program, how in the heck can you come up with the following questions:

- I believe it is an application and not a applet but i am not really sure
- what file do I try to open to run it

Just curious...

CJSL

[Fubarable]

Somewhat mutually exclusive statements. Interesting.

[corlettk]

I'd been working with java for six months, writing some pretty heavy server-side geospatial stuff before I wrote my first applet, just for fun.

I just never got that far in the java tutorials ;-)

So... I can understand the questions.

@alp

In this has been previously stated...

Your options are:

1. Applet.
2. Jar it.
3. Zip it.
4. Webstart.

1. Applet. You could provide an applet instead of, or in addition to, your existing standalone (presumably swing) "presentation".

Google java applet tutorial. First hit:
Lesson: Applets (The Java™ Tutorials > Deployment)
http ://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/deployment/applet/index.html

If the application is well designed then it won't be much of a challenge to convert it over to an applet.

2. Jar it. Your buddies can download your jar and (presuming that they have java installed) they can run it.

Google java jar tutorial. first hit:
Lesson: Packaging Programs in JAR Files (The Java™ Tutorials > Deployment)
http ://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/deployment/jar/

I suppose you'd be wanting to make it an executable jar-file.

3. Zip it. (More or less) as per the jar option, except that you can't (AFAIK) make a zip file executable... you just add the zip-file to your classpath and call the "main" class.

4. Webstart it. Webstart allows users to automagically download your java program and (as long as they trust you) run it on there desktop.

Google webstart tutorial. First hit:
Deploying Java Web Start Applications (The Java™ Tutorials > Deployment > Java Web Start)
http ://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/deployment/webstart/deploying.html

Are we seeing a pattern emerging here? Yep... Google know pretty much everything, except how to get a teenager to was his socks.

-----

Also I humbly suggest that it's time to ditch BlueJ. It's got some very unique ideas about how to run java applications, which are starting to cloud your mind about how java programs are run "in the real world" ;-)

Cheers. Keith.

PS: What do mean I can't post links. Which clown thought that one up? On the other hand it effectively defeats droid link spamming. But still. Sheesh! $#1% even!

[Fubarable]

Hey Keith, and welcome to this forum. Remember, no calling anyone pútz here without my permission, ;)

Pete

[corlettk]

Ta. Thought I'd cross over on a slow night. So putz is a reserved word here is it? Shucks! ... and I was so looking forward to spreading my ubiquitous charm.

PS: What? No _Wiki_ markup. *Barbarians!*

[alpdog14]

Thank you Keith all of this was very informative and helpful. I will look into all of this. Yeah I am starting to think that using BlueJ environment is not a good way to go but I am taking Obj Oriented Programming class and this is all we use so I will have to explore all these options by myself. Thanks again.

No thanks to the Senior Member above who was not helpful at all, I think you should be removed as a Senior member status for not even attempting to help me. Maybe Keith should be bumped up to your senior member status. Thanks again Keith.

[Singing Boyo]

just to stick my nose where it is (probably) not wanted... Fubarable has helped me out plenty of times, so maybe we should just leave things alone? Screwing with the status quo rarely got the people who actually messed with it anywhere... it only helped the people who didn't care... :p

If it wasn't Fubarable you were referring too... I have no comment

[alpdog14]

Hi Singing Boyo, I was actually talking about CJSLMAN not Fubarable, sorry for the mix up.