FAQs

The Java Warehouse is the repository for Java applications submitted by developers for distribution through the Java Store to hundreds of millions of desktops worldwide.

The Java Warehouse Developer Portal is the developer-facing website where developers can register to the Java Warehouse Developer Program and submit their applications to the Java Warehouse for distribution in storefronts, such as the Java Store.

The Java Store is a consumer-focused storefront for distributing Java applications. The Java Store lets consumers discover and safely acquire community-provided applications. The Java Store was built using JavaFX technology. Please visit the Java Store website for more information on the Java Store.

The Java Warehouse is initially targeted at Java and JavaFX applications meant to run on the desktop with initial distribution through the Java Store. In the future, we plan to further stock the Java Warehouse with applications meant for Mobile, TV, and cross-screen applications. Future storefronts customized from the Java Store are planned to become available through partnerships, allowing for increased distribution of applications.

During JavaOne 2009 we launched a first version of the Java Warehouse and a Beta Version of the Java Store. On November 3rd we are updating the Java Warehouse by allowing developers to post for-fee applications. The Java Store has also received a major overhaul. The new versions has an updated look and feel, it allows for buying applications using PayPal, and integrates nicely with the License Rights Management features now available to Java Warehouse Developers.

Yes, as we announced on JavaOne, the Java Warehouse developer Program requires an annual membership fee. All developers that want to join the program will have to pay $50. Existing developers, that have not yet paid the membership fee, will have to do so on January 1st, 2010.

The Java Warehouse Developer Portal is available only in the United States and a selection of countries. Developers from outside the United States will not be charged a membership fee and will only be allowed to submit free applications at this time. More countries will be allowed access to the Java Warehouse Developer Portal in the near future.

Although the Java Warehouse has recently been opened, to the submission of free applications, from selected locations outside of the U.S., the Java Store is available to U.S. consumers only.

The Java Warehouse uses your IP address to verify that you are accessing it from a valid location. Make sure that the place from which you are accessing the Java Warehouse is in the list of valid locations.

Although IP filters work most of the time, there are certain addresses that are incorrectly identified as belonging to a given country when they are in fact located on in a different one. Sometimes your Internet provider might be using addresses allocated to a different country and, although we try to use the most accurate address databases, sometimes the information on our systems is incorrect.

Try changing your IP address, and then log in trying again. If this is not possible, or if you continue to be blocked, contact us using our support form. Please include the location from which you trying to access the Java Warehouse and the IP address being used.

The Java Store will soon be offered to millions of consumers in the U.S. with the Java JRE distribution. Developers that get in early will have a better chance of having their applications stand out on the big launch date. You can also help us improve the Java Warehouse by submitting feedback.

The Java Warehouse will enable developers to reach millions of consumers and , starting with the Nov 3rd release, allows developers to monetize their applications.

Applications posted on the Java Warehouse for inclusion in the Java Store can be either free or priced between $1.99 and $200.

Developers are charged an annual membership fee of $50. There is no extra fee for submitting applications.

Developers can set the price for their own applications.

You can set the price when you first upload your application to the warehouse and also change it after the application has been posted on the Java Store.

We are starting in the U.S. only. We plan to add new countries once we ensure that we meet their privacy and legal requirements and get the necessary infrastructure in place.

All applications that you post at the Java Warehouse and that are offered through the Java Store are offered by you to the end consumer. Sun is only acting as your agent in all transaction. Consumers want to know who is providing their applications and Sun is committed to giving them accurate information. Consumers will rely on your reputation to decide what applications to download.

You can use Windows, Mac or Linux (Ubuntu) to post applications. The Java Warehouse supports those 3 operating systems. Solaris is not formally supported at this time.

The Java Store, however is designed to work on Windows and Macintosh only, Linux and Solaris are not supported at this time. Please visit the Java Store website for more information on the Java Store.

You need the following software to access the Java Warehouse Developer Portal:

• Operating System: Mac, Windows and Ubuntu Linux.
• Browser: Internet Explorer 6, 7 or 8, Firefox 3, or Safari 3.

For this release, the Java Warehouse accepts applications written in Java and JavaFX running on both Mac and Windows operating systems. If your application runs only on one of those platforms you must include the required platform -as well as any other requirements- on the application description.

Applications submitted to the Developer Warehouse must contain a url that links to a support page for the application. If you submit several applications you will need to submit a support link for each one. Before accepting your submission an application tester from Sun will visit that url and verify that there is some way for users to request support. Sun will do some testing of the application but actual support must come from the developer.

Developers have several methods to receive technical support.

• Visit our support page at http://java.sun.com/warehouse/support.
• The Java Warehouse Developer Forum is place for developers to discuss topics of interest. Sun will moderate the forum and provide feedback to developer concerns.
• Refer to the FAQ, developer guidelines, and other reference documentation as we will periodically update these documents to improve the developer experience.
• Developers may submit their questions through a web feedback form. Sun quality assurance will evaluate submissions and appropriately communicate solution.

When registering for the Java Warehouse Developer Program you will have to agree to the Java WarehouseTerms of Use which can be found here: http://java.sun.com/warehouse/overview/termsofuse.jsp.

If you want to submit paid applications, or set a price for a previously free application, you will need to agree to a supplemental terms of use for for-fee applications. The supplemental terms of use for for-fee applications can be found here: http://java.sun.com/warehouse/termsofuse_content/revenue_addendum.jsp

Please find Sun's Privacy Policy at http://java.sun.com/warehouse/overview/privacy.jsp.

Applications that run within the sandbox do not have special requirements. Sandbox applications are processed faster since they are, by definition, more secure. Applications that require permissions outside of the sandbox need to be signed. The Java Warehouse requires that all code signing be done with a certificate issued by a trusted certificate authority. At this moment we are not enforcing the Trusted CA requirement so self-signed code is being allowed for testing purposes, however, all self-signed applications will be removed from the Java Store before we release the Java Store with the JRE.

You can find a detailed explanation on this document on how to register to the site, submit an application and do some basic maintenance.

Please refer to the application submission requirements for details on how to submit an application, which includes such things as packaging your application, generating images, and documenting your application. There are also guidelines on the type of applications you can submit and the type that are not allowed.

The review cycle for an application begins when a developers submits an application. The application is reviewed by Java Warehouse administrators and is either approved or rejected with comments. If approved, the developer decides when to publish the app and make the application public.

Absolutely. All applications, screenshots, icons, descriptions, and the content of the url listed as the support url will be reviewed before the application is allowed into a storefront. We do this to assure the quality of the software and the compliance with the Java Warehouse Terms. We will also review applications that are already posted if Sun or one of our customers notices a possible problem with the application.

You can submit an upgrade to your app at any time. All updates, however, need to go through the same approval process as a new submission so there will be a delay between the time you submit the update and the time the developer can publish the application. You can only have one version of an app in the review queue so if you submit several versions you will have to choose which one you would like to be reviewed first. Only after the first version is reviewed, or withdrawn from the reviewing queue, can you start the review of another version.

It depends. If you are building an ad-supported application it is okay to have ads within your application. However, you can not create an ad that sells another version of your app not listed on the storefront nor have ads that violate the restrictions on content for applications on the store.

We plan to offer different ways to promote your application in the future like selling premium placement on the Java Store.

In the current version, consumers can find your application by filtering on categories or searching for specific words. In the future, we plan to provide tools for consumers to sort applications by popularity, and recommendations. Developers should clearly characterize their applications so that they show up when consumers use the search or filter options.

Sun will collect information about application usage. We will note how many times an application was downloaded, how often it is launched, when it has been removed, etc. Some of the information, like the download count, will be shared with the public. Other information, like how many people removed the application, is only shared with the developer that posted the application. Some information that is usually only for the developer might be shared with the world if aggregated. For example we could say “in total 1 million people removed applications that they downloaded last month”.

Initially we plan to tell you how many people downloaded your application, how many people visited the detail page of your application, how many people are using your application and how many people removed it. We might add more information as we learn more about our consumers and as developers like you tell us what they need to know.