IBM Java 5.0 support for Opera 9

[ppietro]

Hi everyone,

Okay - I've figured out the key to getting IBM Java 5.0 to work in Opera 9.

The main issue is that Sun's Java is organized slightly differently than IBM's Java.

Opera is expecting the main java libraries to be together in a /lib directory. IBM splits the libraries between a /bin and /lib directory.

Compounding this issue is the fact that Opera doesn't use plugins - instead, you configure Opera by pointing it at the main Java directory. Since IBM Java splits the files between two directories, Opera can't find enough files.

You can "fool" Opera though, by putting a symbolic link to the /lib directory in the /bin directory.

So - the way to get Java to work in Opera:

1. Install IBM Java 5.0 as detailed elsewhere on this forum.
2. Install Opera.
(I used opera-9.25-20071214.6-shared-qt.ppc-en.rpm from Opera.com)
3. Start Opera
4. In the Tools menu, select Preferences...
5. In the resultant Preferences dialog box, select the Advanced tab.
6. In the resultant Advanced tab, select Content in the left "tree".
7. In the Content pane, check "Enable Java". This should ungrey the "Java Options..." button.
8. Click the Java Options... button.
9. In the Java Path field paste this: /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/
10. Verify that it works correctly by clicking the Validate Java Path button.
11. Close Opera.
12. As root, create a symbolic link:
ln -s /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/lib /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/lib
13. Restart Opera.
14. Test by going to http://www.time.gov

Cheers,
Paul

[billb]

Excellent guide. I have followed the steps on YDL6 and it works great! Thanks.

[billb]

So - the way to get Java to work in Opera:

1. Install IBM Java 1.5 as detailed elsewhere on this forum.
2. Install Opera.
(I used opera-9.25-20071214.6-shared-qt.ppc-en.rpm from Opera.com)
3. Start Opera
4. In the Tools menu, select Preferences...
5. In the resultant Preferences dialog box, select the Advanced tab.
6. In the resultant Advanced tab, select Content in the left "tree".
7. In the Content pane, check "Enable Java". This should ungrey the "Java Options..." button.
8. Click the Java Options... button.
9. In the Java Path field paste this: /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/
10. Verify that it works correctly by clicking the Validate Java Path button.
11. Close Opera.
12. As root, create a symbolic link:
ln -s /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/lib /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/lib
13. Restart Opera.
14. Test by going to http://www.time.gov

Paul,

Thanks again for posting this prodecure. For Java 6 in Opera 9 I had to use a slightly different (and somewhat odd) method:

In step 9, use this path instead:
/opt/ibm/java-ppc-60/jre/lib/ppc/

In step 12, create this symbolic link instead:
ln -s /opt/ibm/java-ppc-60/jre/lib /opt/ibm/java-ppc-60/jre/lib

Yes, I know we're creating a symbolic link to the lib folder within the lib folder, but that is what works for me.

Tested OK on www.time.gov and www.flyordie.com (Reversi) with Opera 9.26 on Yellow Dog 6.

[dukenukem-727]

CAN U NOW PUT A LINK WHERE U CAN DOWNLOAD THE OPERA PLUGIN FOR YELLOW DOG LINUX !!!!! PLEASE !!!!!! THANKS !

[dukenukem-727]

Hi everyone,

Okay - I've figured out the key to getting IBM Java 1.5 to work in Opera 9.

The main issue is that Sun's Java is organized slightly differently than IBM's Java.

Opera is expecting the main java libraries to be together in a /lib directory. IBM splits the libraries between a /bin and /lib directory.

Compounding this issue is the fact that Opera doesn't use plugins - instead, you configure Opera by pointing it at the main Java directory. Since IBM Java splits the files between two directories, Opera can't find enough files.

You can "fool" Opera though, by putting a symbolic link to the /lib directory in the /bin directory.

So - the way to get Java to work in Opera:

1. Install IBM Java 1.5 as detailed elsewhere on this forum.
2. Install Opera.
(I used opera-9.25-20071214.6-shared-qt.ppc-en.rpm from Opera.com)
3. Start Opera
4. In the Tools menu, select Preferences...
5. In the resultant Preferences dialog box, select the Advanced tab.
6. In the resultant Advanced tab, select Content in the left "tree".
7. In the Content pane, check "Enable Java". This should ungrey the "Java Options..." button.
8. Click the Java Options... button.
9. In the Java Path field paste this: /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/
10. Verify that it works correctly by clicking the Validate Java Path button.
11. Close Opera.
12. As root, create a symbolic link:
ln -s /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/lib /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/lib
13. Restart Opera.
14. Test by going to http://www.time.gov


can u put alink wher to download java plugin 1.5 ! please and many thanks !

Cheers,
Paul

[ppietro]

CAN U NOW PUT A LINK WHERE U CAN DOWNLOAD THE OPERA PLUGIN FOR YELLOW DOG LINUX !!!!! PLEASE !!!!!! THANKS !

Um... there is no Opera Plugin. Unlike Firefox, which requires a plug-in, Opera points at your java installation directly.

That's the whole point of my procedure.

BTW - Java 1.5 and Java 5.0 are equivalent. Originally, Java 5.0 was known as 1.5 - Sun dropped the 1 from the beginning to make it seem more impressive. If I get in a hurry, I sometimes forget to use the new name. I've gone ahead and edited my original post so there's no confusion.

Cheers,
Paul

[dukenukem-727]

CAN U NOW PUT A LINK WHERE U CAN DOWNLOAD THE OPERA PLUGIN FOR YELLOW DOG LINUX !!!!! PLEASE !!!!!! THANKS !

Um... there is no Opera Plugin. Unlike Firefox, which requires a plug-in, Opera points at your java installation directly.

That's the whole point of my procedure.

BTW - Java 1.5 and Java 5.0 are equivalent. Originally, Java 5.0 was known as 1.5 - Sun dropped the 1 from the beginning to make it seem more impressive. If I get in a hurry, I sometimes forget to use the new name. I've gone ahead and edited my original post so there's no confusion.

Cheers,
Paul

ok i see thanks man !

[dukenukem-727]

WHERE DO U FIND THE /lib /bin directory where do u go 2 ?

Hi everyone,

Okay - I've figured out the key to getting IBM Java 5.0 to work in Opera 9.

The main issue is that Sun's Java is organized slightly differently than IBM's Java.

Opera is expecting the main java libraries to be together in a /lib directory. IBM splits the libraries between a /bin and /lib directory.

Compounding this issue is the fact that Opera doesn't use plugins - instead, you configure Opera by pointing it at the main Java directory. Since IBM Java splits the files between two directories, Opera can't find enough files.

You can "fool" Opera though, by putting a symbolic link to the /lib directory in the /bin directory.

So - the way to get Java to work in Opera:

1. Install IBM Java 5.0 as detailed elsewhere on this forum.
2. Install Opera.
(I used opera-9.25-20071214.6-shared-qt.ppc-en.rpm from Opera.com)
3. Start Opera
4. In the Tools menu, select Preferences...
5. In the resultant Preferences dialog box, select the Advanced tab.
6. In the resultant Advanced tab, select Content in the left "tree".
7. In the Content pane, check "Enable Java". This should ungrey the "Java Options..." button.
8. Click the Java Options... button.
9. In the Java Path field paste this: /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/
10. Verify that it works correctly by clicking the Validate Java Path button.
11. Close Opera.
12. As root, create a symbolic link:
ln -s /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/lib /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/lib
13. Restart Opera.
14. Test by going to http://www.time.gov

Cheers,
Paul

[uncholowapo]

Why would you use Java 5 if Java 6 is out?

[dukenukem-727]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY CREATE A SYMBOLIC LINK ?!? I DONT KNOW WHAT THAT IS PLEASE HELP !

Hi everyone,

Okay - I've figured out the key to getting IBM Java 5.0 to work in Opera 9.

The main issue is that Sun's Java is organized slightly differently than IBM's Java.

Opera is expecting the main java libraries to be together in a /lib directory. IBM splits the libraries between a /bin and /lib directory.

Compounding this issue is the fact that Opera doesn't use plugins - instead, you configure Opera by pointing it at the main Java directory. Since IBM Java splits the files between two directories, Opera can't find enough files.

You can "fool" Opera though, by putting a symbolic link to the /lib directory in the /bin directory.

So - the way to get Java to work in Opera:

1. Install IBM Java 5.0 as detailed elsewhere on this forum.
2. Install Opera.
(I used opera-9.25-20071214.6-shared-qt.ppc-en.rpm from Opera.com)
3. Start Opera
4. In the Tools menu, select Preferences...
5. In the resultant Preferences dialog box, select the Advanced tab.
6. In the resultant Advanced tab, select Content in the left "tree".
7. In the Content pane, check "Enable Java". This should ungrey the "Java Options..." button.
8. Click the Java Options... button.
9. In the Java Path field paste this: /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/
10. Verify that it works correctly by clicking the Validate Java Path button.
11. Close Opera.
12. As root, create a symbolic link:
ln -s /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/lib /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/lib
13. Restart Opera.
14. Test by going to http://www.time.gov

Cheers,
Paul

[ppietro]

Why would you use Java 5 if Java 6 is out?

Well, there are a couple reasons.

First, Java is extremely backwards compatible. Generally, you don't have to use the latest version of Java. That's why Java 1.4.2 is still available. Eventually, you can upgrade, but a lot of Java users choose to wait to load the newest versions until a couple of bug fix releases are out.

Also, it appears that Java 5 has a smaller memory footprint than Java 6. On the PS3, this helps.

On the other hand, billb and some others have reported that Java 6 works better with some apps.

The beauty of Java is that you can actually have both on your system, and switch your plugin as necessary. That's what I do.

Cheers,
Paul

[ppietro]

WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY CREATE A SYMBOLIC LINK ?!? I DONT KNOW WHAT THAT IS PLEASE HELP !

It's all in my procedure. See line 12 where it says "create a symbolic link?".

For step 12, open a terminal window (aka command prompt).

Then, type this:

Code: Select all

su
<enter your root password>
ln -s /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/lib /opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/lib


"ln -s" is the symbolic link command. This only works for Java 5.0. I can give you the syntax for Java 6.0 if you need it.

Cheers,
Paul

[Chaossoul]

how do i get opera on ydl 6?

[ppietro]

how do i get opera on ydl 6?

Exactly the same way. The main difference is Java 5.0 or Java 6.0. You'll need to do billb's modifcation to get Java 6.0 to work.

Cheers,
Paul

[Chaossoul]

paul i did all of that and it gives me
ln: creating symbolic link `/opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/bin/lib' to `/opt/ibm/java2-ppc-50/jre/lib': No such file or directory

how do i create one from the beginning