Java check latest version programmatically

Question

Goal: check java\'s version on a machine (I can get this from java -version). Compare it with latest available from java website

I woul

Answer 1

UPDATE: I don't recommend this method because this JRE is the one that has the Ask.com toolbar. You're better off downloading it yourself and distributing it yourself.

The jusched.exe program accesses the following URL to find out what versions are available. I think it's less likely to change because jusched is installed on millions of computers.

https://javadl-esd-secure.oracle.com/update/1.7.0/map-m-1.7.0.xml

Here is a snippet of what it returns for me:

      
      1.7.0_17
      https://javadl-esd-secure.oracle.com/update/1.7.0/au-descriptor-1.7.0_25-b17.xml
   
   
      1.7.0_21
      https://javadl-esd-secure.oracle.com/update/1.7.0/au-descriptor-1.7.0_25-b17.xml
   
   

To get the actual version that it is pointing to you have to fetch the above URL. Here is another snippet of what this XML looks like:

xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>


  
    Java Update - Update Available
    
    Java 7 Update 25 is ready to install. Installing Java 7 Update 25 might uninstall the latest Java 6 from your system. Click the Install button to update Java now.  If you wish to update Java later, click the Later button.
    http://java.com/moreinfolink
    Java Update Available
    A new version of Java is ready to be installed.
    More information...
    http://javadl.sun.com/webapps/download/GetFile/1.7.0_25-b17/windows-i586/jre-7u25-windows-i586-iftw.exe
    1.7.0_25-b17
    https://nometrics.java.com
    http://rps-svcs.sun.com/services/countrylookup
    
    /installmethod=jau FAMILYUPGRADE=1 SPWEB=http://javadl-esd.sun.com/update/1.7.0/sp-1.7.0_25-b17
    24595ec7f861bc67e572f1e4ad3992441335e1a7
  

The version tag contains the full version number.