Thread: Data management, Serialization, and software updates.

So, this isn't quite JavaFx related, it has more to do with serialization.

I am new to Java, began learning about a year ago for fun. I discovered JavaFX early on and have mostly stuck with it.

In October I began creating my own billing software to manage a self storage complex I own.

Now, to save all the data (customers, units, invoices, billing, etc) I'm using serialization.

When the software starts, it automatically deserializes the files, and then creates a backup which contain all the serialized objects. I have a feature which allows me to "restore" past backups through deserialization Incase something bad happens.

So, my issue comes with future updates to the software.
Currently, I have the software calling up my website which returns a current version and a download link.

If there's a newer version, it uses the link to download, unzip, and run a separate JavaFX application, which will load the old serialized classes, and convert them into the new serialized classes, and then it downloads the newest version of the software and installs it.

This was my work around for incompatible serialized classes that are destined to happen as I update the software.

Is this considered "okay" or am I taking the hard route? Is serialization even meant to be used in this way?

Yeah, it would probably make it a lot easier. I think it's probably time for me to learn MySQL.