Massimo Fiorentino

Q: Java SDK dialog (again)

Hello my fellow partners in Mac!

 

This seem to be a common problem every time we have a new version of the Mac OS, but I cannot, from my POV, find the proper solution.

 

Every couple of hours or when waking from sleep, a dialog pops up telling me to install a Java Developer Kit. As I said, this has happened a lot of times before when you Google it, but I cannot find anyone who offers a solution where you do not need to install the JDK. It seems like the only solution is to succumb to the dialog's request.

 

In my instance (and this might vary, I don't quite know), it is the launchd process that requires it. But I cannot go any deeper that that in my limited knowledge of the OS. I've tried to delete all kinds of Java related files, and have looked everywhere for stuff that might trigger this, I've deleted LauchDeamons, LaunchAgents, everything Java-related I could delete in /System/* and (~)/Library/* etcetera, etcetera, but this dialog keeps popping up, so something is requesting it and I can't figure out what it is.

 

Screenshot 2016-09-26 19.11.14.png

 

What I need is not to install Java. I don't like it, and I think it is an old and unsafe technology. I just want to get rid of it all once and for all (and hopefully without having to reinstall everything form scratch).

 

Can anybody shed some light on this? Is it the System itself that thinks I need this, or is there any way I can dig deeper to figure out what triggers this?

 

Cheers,

Massimo

Posted on Sep 26, 2016 10:22 PM

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Q: Java SDK dialog (again)

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Barney-15E,Helpful

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Sep 27, 2016 5:02 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino
    Level 9 (50,401 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 5:02 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino

    What I need is not to install Java. I don't like it, and I think it is an old and unsafe technology. I just want to get rid of it all once and for all (and hopefully without having to reinstall everything form scratch).

     

    Can anybody shed some light on this? Is it the System itself that thinks I need this, or is there any way I can dig deeper to figure out what triggers this?

    The OS doesn't use Java in any way. You have installed software that not only requires Java, but it also requires that it be the Legacy Java 6 released by Apple (and abandoned) years ago.

    If you don't wish to install Java, then you must determine what software you have installed that requires Java and remove it. From what I have seen here, it is commonly Adobe's software that seems to have been poorly coded to only use Apple's implementation of Java 6.

  • by Massimo Fiorentino,

    Massimo Fiorentino Massimo Fiorentino Sep 27, 2016 5:04 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 5:04 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Thank you. So there isn't any way to pinpoint exactly what software that is requesting this?

     

    And boy, what a bummer if Adobe relies upon Java 6. I have the absolut latest installation of the package and cannot uninstall it due to me relying upon it for my daily line of work…

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Sep 27, 2016 4:27 PM in response to Massimo Fiorentino
    Level 9 (50,401 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 27, 2016 4:27 PM in response to Massimo Fiorentino

    Then you'll need to install Apple's Java 6: https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1572?locale=en_US

     

    I don't use Adobe software, so I don't know what the newest version supports. It is possible that it just needs a JDK installed which you can download from Oracle. However, everything I have read here seems to indicate Adobe doesn't know how to implement Java apps on a Mac.

  • by Massimo Fiorentino,

    Massimo Fiorentino Massimo Fiorentino Sep 28, 2016 12:02 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 12:02 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Thank you, but I would rather avoid installing Java altogether. I think I need a hacker

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Sep 28, 2016 3:40 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino
    Level 9 (50,401 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 3:40 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino

    Massimo Fiorentino wrote:

     

    Thank you, but I would rather avoid installing Java altogether. I think I need a hacker

    If you must use Adobe's software, you either must install Java, or just keep clicking Ok on the dialog box.

    If you can figure out what components use Java, you could avoid using those.

  • by brycesteiner,Helpful

    brycesteiner brycesteiner Sep 28, 2016 4:04 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:04 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino

    I know what your talking about because I do have Adobe software. Indesign and Illustrator cannot run without it (at least CS6 and below).

    I also see that LibreOffice uses it. This has improved to be a fantastic program. it would be nice if they would not use it. It seems to be programs that are cross platform and this makes it easier since Java is on both.

    Some others:

    Roes (photography ordering software)

    JAlbum

     

    That's all I can think of

     

    What I would try, and you probably have, is to put in the trash all files in your cache folder ~/Library/caches/ then reboot then empty the trash. Hopefully now it won't come up and if it does it will be clear what program is requesting it.

  • by Massimo Fiorentino,

    Massimo Fiorentino Massimo Fiorentino Sep 28, 2016 4:03 AM in response to brycesteiner
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:03 AM in response to brycesteiner

    Thanks. But I use the latest CC.2015, so I'm not sure that it needs Java at all.

     

    Also, it is a launchd process that requests it, but I've looked through all plists in the places where LauchDaemons and LaunchAgents are located trying to find any reference to "*.jar" or Java, but I cannot find anything. That's why I need a hacker, or someone who can tell me how to pinpoint exactly what process / app that is causing this window to appear. The last thing I want to do (as stated before) is to install Java.

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Sep 28, 2016 4:16 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino
    Level 9 (50,401 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:16 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino

    I doubt that the java program is called directly from a launchd item. The java component is being called by the other Adobe components as needed.

    That's why I need a hacker, or someone who can tell me how to pinpoint exactly what process / app that is causing this window to appear.

    You could also just call Adobe and ask them what components are using Java.

  • by Massimo Fiorentino,

    Massimo Fiorentino Massimo Fiorentino Sep 28, 2016 4:33 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:33 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Thanks. But I don't even think this has something to do with Adobe.

    Because, when identifying the process that has the dialog window triggered, it tells me (via Activity Monitor), that its parent is launchd (see the screenshot above)… I will not make myself an expert in relations to app / GUI hierarchies, but I think I need to go deeper than that in order to pinpoint what is causing this dialog to appear…

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Sep 28, 2016 4:38 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino
    Level 9 (50,401 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:38 AM in response to Massimo Fiorentino

    Almost everything's parent is launchd.

    Also, it doesn't matter what the parent process of the dialog box is. The dialog box is generated by the OS when something tries to invoke java. It is not generated by the program that tried to invoke java.

  • by Massimo Fiorentino,Solvedanswer

    Massimo Fiorentino Massimo Fiorentino Sep 28, 2016 4:49 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (105 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:49 AM in response to Barney-15E

    Thank you Barney. I did not know that.

     

    But it seems like I found the culprit. I previously deleted a .plist file from ~/Library/LaunchAgents that was an old 2007 Facebook video thing. But merely deleting it obviously weren't enough. I needed to restart the Mac. So for the record: To solve this kind of problem, you might want to go through your LaunchDaemon & LaunchAgent .plist files (especially in ~/Library/LaunchAgents), and see if any of them tries to trigger a *.jar or any Java app / file / executable.

     

    Thank you all for your kind help!

  • by brycesteiner,

    brycesteiner brycesteiner Sep 28, 2016 4:49 AM in response to Barney-15E
    Level 1 (37 points)
    Mac OS X
    Sep 28, 2016 4:49 AM in response to Barney-15E

    I would say without a doubt it is still Adobe calling for it. I use CC also and it asked for here. BUT I found a site on Adobe's support pages that talk about this issue:

     

    https://forums.adobe.com/thread/1116057

     

    There are solutions for not using it and there are also ways to install it. I would venture to say there are remnants of the old in the new editions.