How to let Google Chrome automatically handle Java Web Start in Ubuntu

A previous post describes a way to run TopCoder Arena without launching from browsers. This post gives another way to launch Topcoder Arena in Google Chrome browser under Ubuntu. It should work for other Java Web Start applications, too.

1. Intall the latest sun java 6 and browser plugins by following the instructions here.
2. Set JAVA_HOME and PATH in ~/.profile. An example is the following

   export JAVA_HOME="/usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.6.0_31"
   export PATH="$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH"
   

3. Install the mime type for "jnlp" files. In the terminal, type

   xdg-mime install $JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/desktop/mime/packages/x-java-jnlp-file.xml

4. Install the desktop file for "jnlp" files. In the terminal, type

   cp $JAVA_HOME/jre/lib/desktop/applications/sun-javaws.desktop ~/.local/share/applications/
   

   And make sure it contains the following line

   Exec=javaws %u

5. Relate the mime type and the desktop file. Add the following line to ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list

   application/x-java-jnlp-file=sun-javaws.desktop

6. Configure Google Chrome browser to open the "jnlp" files automatically after downloading. Download any jnlp file in Google Chrome browser, and select "always open files of this type" in Google Chrome.