Applets are back, just not in the browser

Anthony Goubard
1 min readMay 9, 2022

Java applets are Java applications that were able to run embedded in the browser a bit like Abobe Flash was in the 90’s and 00’s. Modern internet browsers don’t support applets anymore but it’s now possible to run applets in your Java IDE.

Rollerboy 2 game running in IntelliJ IDEA

Let me introduce you to Applet Runner IDE plug-in that runs applets embedded in your Java IDE’s (JetBrains / IntelliJ, Eclipse, NetBeans).

Why develop/run applets in an IDE:
⇒ Applets have live cycles (init, start, stop, destroy)
⇒ Applets can specify parameters and external libraries
⇒ Applets are meant to be embedded in another software by design
⇒ Applets doesn’t require external libraries
⇒ Applet’s code could be used for a standalone application

Why use Applet Runner:
⪢ No need to write a plug-in for each IDE
⪢ No external library dependencies
⪢ Easy deployment by copying the files to a web server or a shared network
⪢ Easy distribution: just send the URL or file location of the applet
⪢ Application automatically updated
⪢ Link to more than 100 utility applets included
⪢ It’s free

Applet Runner plugin — Run Java applications embedded in your IDE — YouTube

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Anthony Goubard

Founder of Japplis, a company developing tools in Java in order to boost people productivity.