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More Trouble with Java and Apple

Posted by: Ken Sipe on 12/05/2009
Well the latest update for Java from Apple came through recently. Destroying all in its path...
If you followed my advice in the past on getting Java 1.5 working on a Snow Leopard, then the new Apple update destroys that with the follow error for a Java 5 java -version:
Error occurred during initialization of VM
Unable to load native library: libjava.jnilib
Abort trap

I didn't track down the exact issue... however it is easy to detect that the Java update converts the symbolic links for Java 1.5 to point back to Java 6... Apparently Apple is NOT sorry for their crazy choice of ignorantly doing this in the first place. The solution is to completely go through the process out lined at OneSwarm again and re-establish the symbolic links. This will require you to delete the symbolic links that point to "CurrentJDK" for 1.4, 1.4.2, 1.5, and 1.5.0.

After edits an ls -l in the /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions should look like:

drwxr-xr-x 15 root wheel 510 Dec 5 22:18 .
drwxr-xr-x 12 root wheel 408 Dec 5 22:15 ..
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 5 Dec 5 21:35 1.3 -> 1.3.1
drwxr-xr-x 3 root wheel 102 Jul 20 18:35 1.3.1
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 5 Dec 5 22:18 1.4 -> 1.4.2
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 14 Dec 5 22:18 1.4.2 -> 1.4.2-leopard/
drwxr-xr-x@ 9 root wheel 306 Feb 12 2009 1.4.2-leopard
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 5 Dec 5 22:01 1.5 -> 1.5.0
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 14 Dec 5 22:00 1.5.0 -> 1.5.0-leopard/
drwxr-xr-x@ 10 root wheel 340 Dec 5 21:59 1.5.0-leopard
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 5 Dec 5 21:35 1.6 -> 1.6.0
drwxr-xr-x 8 root wheel 272 Nov 8 14:35 1.6.0
drwxr-xr-x 9 root wheel 306 Dec 5 21:35 A
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 1 Dec 5 21:35 Current -> A
lrwxr-xr-x 1 root wheel 3 Dec 5 21:35 CurrentJDK -> 1.6


Happy coding!
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About Ken Sipe

Ken Sipe

Ken Sipe is a Technology Director with Perficient, Inc. (PRFT), IBM's largest service partner, where he leads multiple teams in the development of solutions in the SOA, Web 2.0 and portal domains, on both the Java and .Net platforms.

Ken was the founder of CodeMentor, where he was the Chief Architect and Mentor, leading clients in the execution of RUP and Agile methodologies in the delivery of software solutions.
Ken has a deep need to be highly diversified. Ken often works with IT executives on high-level strategic roadmaps, currently geared around service oriented architectures (SOA). Ken also likes to keep his hands "dirty" in the code, which has him on a regular basis, pairing or otherwise producing code. Ken is regularly requested by clients that know him to "rescue" projects, either through the streamlining of processes or the rapid production of code.


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