Another issue when using applets is the number and size of the support classes that a client needs to run the applet. In the case of the WhiteboardApplet described earlier, in addition to its own class file, the applet needs to download the following support classes:
MsgWhiteboardUser
Collaborator
MessageCollaborator
MessageHandler
Message
In the version of the JDK we used to compile these classes into Java bytecodes, the total size of the class files, including the WhiteboardApplet, is a little less than 20Kb. This is downloadable in around 7 seconds on a 28.8 Kbit/s modem--not bad at all. If the support classes for our applet are extensive, we have the option of providing them on the web server compressed in a .jar file or a .zip file, whichever one we think most of the client browsers will support.
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| A.1. Whiteboard Applet |  | B. CORBA Services |
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