[CentOS-docs] HowTos/JavaOnCentOS Wiki page revision?

Sun Jan 16 14:03:15 UTC 2011
Phil Schaffner <Philip.R.Schaffner at NASA.gov>

Ralph Angenendt wrote on 01/15/2011 03:39 PM:
...
> To me the article looks good, if you can incorporate it into the current
> wiki article (and not just replace that).

I beg to differ.  The current Wiki article contains a lot of confusing 
and obsolete information, and in trying to cover a multitude of Java 
versions and different approaches for CentOS 4 and 5, fails to do any of 
it well.  Modifying it to merge in still more approaches such as the two 
currently under discussion in this thread, and soon CentOS 6, will add 
additional confusion.

I would propose instead that a new "cover page" replace the current 
page.  It should comprise an introduction to Java on CentOS; briefly 
discuss JRE, JDK, alternatives, and browser plugins; and provide links 
to sub-pages; one of which may be the current page and/or multiple 
sub-pages derived from it.  Each subpage of JavaOnCentOS should be a 
concise method to install a particular Java flavor on a specific CentOS 
version, and should include its own detailed procedure on alternatives 
and plugins if appropriate. Obsolete pages and information could either 
be pruned or preserved in a "Historical" section.  The two new 
submissions should each get their own sub-page.  A section at the end, 
perhaps "Other Voices", could point to recommended external pages, such 
as parts of the Jpackage site, or other HowTos.

If this approach is accepted I would be glad to help draft the cover 
page, and to help with polishing sub-pages; having over the years dealt 
with JDK via Sun(Oracle) RPMs, building JDK via the Jpackage approach, 
and simple JRE/plugin installations.

Phil