Java Web Start allows to install and upgrade and startup applications using the web in a transparent way and is therefore very convenient for the installation of applications that run on the astronomer's desktop. The tool handles automatic download of dependencies between packages and checks for the availability of new versions of dependecy packages, installing them automatically when needed.
ACS is supported on a specified number of platforms, agreed at each release according to the needs of ALMA control and data flow applications. Since not all platforms are needed for all applications, some ACS features can be supported only on a subset of these platforsms.
The Java language has been selected as the most portable language. ACS assumes that applications that need the maximun platform availability will be developed using the Java ACS distribution, that is supported on any platform where a Java Virtual Machine is available.
On the most important platforms ACS will be distributed in binary format.
The ACS source distribution can be used to build ACS on other supported (or also unsupported) platforms.
ACS distributes all tools that are not part of the basic operating system installation for all supported platforms. This makes sure that the tools are in the proper versions and are properly configured.
But the ACS installer allow to selectively install only some of these tools, if the user prefers to rely on an own installation.
Since ACS is available in many distribution formats to support the needs of users not working 100% with ALMA software, the ACS Installer provides a tool to verify the configuration of the machine where ACS has been installed and to write a report that can be used when requesting support. Without such a tool it would be very difficult to track problems due to a partial installation of the tools or to user-specific operating system and environment settings.