Netscape LiveConnect is built on a fundamental technology called the Java Runtime Interface (JRI). The JRI allows native methods to be written that are robust with respect to changes that might occur in future releases of Java classes, the Java runtime, or the Navigator. This ensures developers that the plug-ins they write today will continue to work tomorrow.
A complete draft of the Java Runtime Interface specification is available. In particular, the overview section may be helpful in understanding the JRI object model.
The salient portions for plug-in developers are the Native Method
API and the extensions to
javah
to support the JRI.