OS X 10.8, Java 7 Support; Calling Java from MATLAB

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I've been unable to use MATLAB 2013a on OS X 10.8 (Mountain Lion) to call Java 7 based libraries. Evidently MATLAB has no Java 7 support on OS X.
When invoking a Java 7 based class from OS X, MATLAB always gets an error (Arguments to IMPORT must either end with ".*" or else specify a fully qualified class name). These libraries make use of Java 7 features so rebuilding for Java 6 isn't an option.
MATLAB on OS X reverts to Java 6. Have no problems calling Java 6 classes from Matlab.
My workaround has been to run Matlab in either a Windows 7 or RHEL VM. Not very convenient. Any other options?
Haven't heard of any time table for adding Java 7 support under OS X.

Answers (1)

ML
ML on 27 Jul 2013
Edited: ML on 27 Jul 2013
Yes, even though OS X has had 64-bit support for AGES, lazy software companies have yet to update for Java 7. Oracle has warned them that Java 6 was going EOL as of February 2013. Even with several months reprieve from Oracle after the security debacle that warranted the Homeland Security warning against Java, these lazy companies still have YET to get off their duffs and fix this. They need to build their old trash as 64-bit, even if it is already 100% Java 7 friendly. I can't fathom how these companies expect us to perform cutting edge research with their outdated nonsense. There's no excuse, and sadly, Matlab is not alone in this. MathWorks' problem is that they may be 64-bit, but they cannot get around Java 7 compatibility by installing a "private" JVM on OS X. The installer itself prompts for Java 6 to be installed.
Instead, you have to sully your shiny new Lion or Mountain Lion install with Java 6, which gets its hooks so deep in OS X, that only a clean wipe install will eradicate it (Java 7 is an install/uninstall like any other software) and then you're again at the mercy of Apple's charity, but this time in their continuing to build the special releases of OS 6 that only paying enterprise customers can access since 6u45 (Java 7 is a free download to anyone at any time, since it is the current release). Otherwise, countless systems will be exploitable, b/c they'll install Java 6 for this nonsense and then be vulnerable in their browsers, b/c many people have no clue.
Thanks for nothing MathWorks (and DeltaGraph and PDF Studio and many more)!
It's patently ridiculous, and the well-known timing gives them NO EXCUSE. MathWorks should be ashamed along with other lazy companies that have had years to fix this and failed to even try.

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