Sound in Java: What's the difference between javax.sound and sun.audio?

Question

I'm starting to learn how to play sounds in Java applications.

I've come across two packages that enable the programmer to do this: sun.audio and javax.sound.

What are the differences between the two? Advantages and disadvantages?

Answer 1

• javax.sound is the official, documented, supported, Java Sound API. It should be included in any 1.3+ JRE. Use it with confidence that it will be there in the next release.
• sun.audio isn't (the majority of those things). Don't use it.