I got an update for my computer. From Java.

I got an update for my computer. From Java.
I am so over Java. I’m beginning to not have bad feelings about Microsoft, that’s how so far over Java I am.
And Adobe. Oh my goodness.
Every time I turn around, there’s another update for Java or for Adobe. When are these people ever gonna get it right?
Sure, updates are needed from time to time on anything. But, when the update is an improvement to functionality, that’s one thing. But constant security updates? That’s crazy.
Don’t turn this into a Windows vs OS X vs Linux vs whatever debate. The problem I’m talking about isn’t the operating system. You see, these Java updates? They happen on all the systems. Adobe updates? All platforms need them. Oh, yeah, there are others, but these are the two I see the most on varying systems. And, more often than not, it seems, it’s a security update.
That makes me wonder: how secure are we?
Why do we need all these plugins anyway? Why couldn’t Microsoft or Apple go ahead and include that functionality in the operating system to begin with? Well, they do. Only, they aren’t compatible.
If you’re running Windows, Microsoft included support for WMV files: Windows Media Player. If you’re running OS X, Apple included support for MOV files: QuickTime. And, out of the box, they are incompatible. Sure, you can get plugins to play WMV files on OS X and plugins to play MOV files on Windows, but there we go with plugins again. It’s not core OS functionality.
Then, we all get caught up in things like Java or Adobe products. But Java, after all its original hype and promise turned out to be nothing more than a way for hackers to get into your computer. Well, maybe it’s more than that, but it’s certainly opened many computers up to nefarious individuals.
Flash is the same way. Though Flash didn’t originate with Adobe, Adobe bought out Macromedia and added Flash to its stable of unstable products. And Flash, while not as vulnerable to outsiders as Java, will beat your system’s resources to a pulp, eventually locking it up or causing you to reboot before it does.
Flash is the devil. As is Java. And we invited them into our homes and onto our computers.
Say what you will about Apple, their move to reject Flash on their mobile devices (iOS) was eventually followed by Android (latest two versions). That means that the vast majority of mobile devices won’t play Flash content. And, as older versions of Android (that do support Flash) are replaced by current versions, the percentage of Flash-enabled mobile devices gets smaller and smaller. And that’s a good thing.
Flash and Java are like Obamacare: they promise great things, but really can’t deliver on those promises. Or, when they do, the cost is too great.
Maybe I’m just getting old. Or even more old. I think I’ll go yell at the kids to get off my lawn. And for Java and Adobe to get off my computer.