B.1 Why Use Oracle JInitiator?

Oracle JInitiator delivers a certified, supportable, Java Runtime Environment (JRE) to client desktops, which can be launched transparently through a Web browser.

Oracle JInitiator is Oracle's version of JavaSoft's Java Plug-in. The JavaSoft Plug-in is a delivery mechanism for a JavaSoft JRE, which can be launched from within a browser. Likewise, Oracle JInitiator is providing a delivery mechanism for an Oracle certified JRE, which enables Oracle Forms applications to be run from within a browser in a stable and supported manner.

In addition to providing a certified platform for the execution of Oracle Forms applications, Oracle JInitiator provides a number of additional features over and above the standard JavaSoft Java Plug-in. These include Jar file caching, incremental Jar file loading, and applet caching (see Chapter 8, Minimizing the Application Startup Time).