Mac: Can I have different versions of Java set for certain applications?

Question

I have 2 programs on my computer that I am constantly running. One uses java 6 one uses java 7. Recently I have just been going into java preferences and changing which one is default depending on what I'm doing, is there a way I can just have it set so these applications can both run (AKA automatically use different java versions)

-Thanks, Ben

Answer 1

No. OS 10.7 and later has no Java installed, but has a Java 6 installer at...

/Applications/Utilities/Java Preferences.app



There is no public Java 7 yet for Mac OS. Oracle has posted a developer preview. Use at your own risk. If you install the developer preview, you have Java 7 RE, no more Java 6.



Other Java versions are pre-installed with older OS versions. You cannot easily throw out a new version of Java and install an older one. You cannot use a new version of Java with an old OS, because the newer Java versions do not run in the older OS version.

Answer 2

A java 6 application should run without issue on java 7 runtime environments. Just set it to Java 7 default and run the java 6 application, it should run properly.

Answer 3

mac eww a poo poo