[quote]I think we would need some sort of mechanism that allow programatically or by configuration the request of certain Java modules
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IMHO, coding around potential problems introduced by a JRE feature is a workaround, not a solution.
One key point about having a strictly maintained java standard is that we can be sure that a java installation is compatible. Something like this could break that, or at least add more assumptions (“it is only java compliant as long as you and Sun’s servers are always online”).
Cas, when i 7zip the hotspot JRE i still only get it down to 15MB, but your games are around 6MB. how do you do that? do you even use the HotSpot JRE?
Coz I’ve deleted every bit of the JRE I can do without before I 7zipped it 
Cas 
If you are after the best compression ratio possible, you might be interested in trying Kzip.
In the field of j2me games, it reliably obtains roughly 1% better compression than 7zip.
This is ofcourse assuming you are using the conventional zip format, not the 7zip proprietary format; which I assume is the case, if you are distributing via webstart.
Incidentally, is there a technical reason you are not taking advantage of pack200? (for clients that support it)
Uhm… with 7zip he means lzma (NSIS) and no webstart or whatsoever. The webstart links are tagged as “linux” but they are infact xplatform.
He could use p200 for the installer, too. But then it would go from gray to completely black.
Using it for webstart would be certainly a possibility, but I think he was too lazy for setting it up. ROI wise there isnt much to get anyways (if there are already win and mac builds).
I don’t use Pack200 because I use a 1.4 VM (it’s smaller). Also targeting Macs for which the 1.4 VM is still prevalent. I use LZMA as oNyx says because it’s built in to the NSIS installer. Good stuff. Those guys deserve a medal.
Cas
Lil off topic… is 1.4 really prevelant on Macs? Apple updates the JRE as part of system updates. I’d think Mac users would be the ones who are most likely to have the latest and greatest Java.
Do you have an agreement with sun to be allowed to do so, or how else did you overcome the JRE redistribution constraints?
For OS X 10.3 (panther) users, there will never be Java 5.
That’s something like 40% of mac users, may be more.
Lilian