public static void openURL(String url) {
        try {  //attempt to use Desktop library from JDK 1.6+
            Class<?> d = Class.forName("java.awt.Desktop");
            d.getDeclaredMethod("browse", new Class[]{java.net.URI.class}).invoke(
                    d.getDeclaredMethod("getDesktop").invoke(null),
                    new Object[]{java.net.URI.create(url)});
            //above code mimicks:  java.awt.Desktop.getDesktop().browse()
        } catch (Exception ignore) {  //library not available or failed
            String osName = System.getProperty("os.name");
            try {
                if (osName.startsWith("Mac OS")) {
                    Class.forName("com.apple.eio.FileManager").getDeclaredMethod(
                            "openURL", new Class[]{String.class}).invoke(null,
                            new Object[]{url});
                } else if (osName.startsWith("Windows"))
                    Runtime.getRuntime().exec(
                            "rundll32 url.dll,FileProtocolHandler " + url);
                else { //assume Unix or Linux
                    String browser = null;
                    for (String b : browsers)
                        if (browser == null && Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[]
                                {"which", b}).getInputStream().read() != -1)
                            Runtime.getRuntime().exec(new String[]{browser = b, url});
                    if (browser == null)
                        throw new Exception(Arrays.toString(browsers));
                }
            } catch (Exception e) {
            }
        }
    }