# Running and Creating Java Applets: A Comprehensive Guide for Linux Users

Java applets were once an essential part of online applications, allowing developers to create dynamic, interactive content that could be easily shared across various platforms without the need for native code compilation. However, with advancements in web technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript, and modern browser capabilities, their use has largely diminished.

Despite this decline, there still exist scenarios where understanding how to run and create Java applets remains pertinent, particularly within legacy systems or when working on specific projects that require backwards compatibility. This article will focus specifically on running and creating Java applet programs under the Linux operating system using popular tools such as Eclipse IDE and NetBeans.

## Prerequisites

Before diving into this tutorial, ensure you have the following software installed:

* A recent version of Oracle JDK (Java Development Kit) or OpenJDK with the `javac` compiler included

* An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) like Eclipse or Netbeans for Java development

* A compatible web browser that supports Java applets

## Running Existing Applet Programs Using a Web Browser

To run an existing Java applet program using your preferred web browser, follow these steps:

1. Download the `.jar` file containing the applet from its official source or repository.

2. Create a new directory on your system and extract all files within it (if necessary).

3. Open any text editor like `nano` or `gedit`, then create an HTML document called `index.html`.

4. Paste the following code into this file:

```html

width='800px'
height='600px'>

```

Replace `'path_to_appel.jar'` with the actual path to your downloaded applet jar file.

5. Save and close `index.html`.

6. Copy or move both files (`index.html` and any dependent JARs) into a directory accessible via your web browser (e.g., `/var/www/html/yourapp`).

7. Navigate in your preferred internet browser to the location where you placed these files, ensuring that Java plugin support is enabled.

## Creating New Applets Using NetBeans IDE

Netbeans provides an excellent Integrated Development Environment for creating and running Java applet programs on Linux systems:

1. Download and install Netbeans from its official website if not already installed.

2. Launch the Netbeans application.

3. From within the Netbeans workspace, right-click anywhere in the Projects panel then select New > Other...

5. Choose Java>Java Applet under Categories on left-hand side of dialog box with name field at top labeled 'Choose project type', click Next>> button after selecting it; choose either Swing/AWT or Swing/SwingWorker depending upon your requirements.

6. Follow the wizard's instructions to create a new applet project, specifying an appropriate name and location for your workspace.

## Running Applets Using Netbeans' Built-in Java Application Launcher

Once you've successfully created your first netbeans java application using one of these methods:

1. Select Run > Run Project (Shift+F6) from main menu bar while having current .java source file open in editor area; or press Shift+F6 keys on keyboard when cursor is inside method body.

Your Java applet will now launch within a new browser window, allowing you to test and debug it before deployment. If any issues arise during execution, consult Netbeans' comprehensive documentation for troubleshooting tips specific to your environment.

This article has covered the process of running existing java applets on linux systems using popular tools such as eclipse ide and netbeans IDE. We also discussed how create new apps from scratch within these integrated development environments so users can easily get started with their own projects today without much hassle involved!

Linux java applet viewer