FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java.runtime.version = 1.6.0_10-beta-b25

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Microsoft Windows XP [Version 5.1.2600]

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
I develop applets. All day long I make changes. Each change requires me to rebuild the jar(s) and then go to the Java console and type "X" to clear the cache. I then reload the applet to test my changes.

The longer I do this, the longer it takes for the initial load of the applet.

If I close the browser completely, and clear all temporary Internet Files via the Java control panel application (Start->Control Panel->Java->General tab->Temporary Internet Files->Settings...->Delete Files...->OK to Applications and Applets and Trace and Log Files), then restart my browser and start testing my applets again, they load super fast. As stated previously, the longer I test, the slower the applet loads.

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
1) Create a jar with an applet.
2) Create a jsp file that references the applet and place on a web server.
3) Load the jsp using Internet Explorer.
4) Rebuild the applet jar file.
5) Open the plug-in console and type "X" to clear cache.
6) Reload the applet by clicking refresh in browser.
7) Repeat steps 4-7. After 20 or 30 iterations, you will notice that step 6 takes a long time.
8) That's it.

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Applets should load at the same speed regardless of local disk caching.
ACTUAL -
After clearing the cache in the plug-in console and reloading the same applet about 30 times, the applet loads very slowly.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

---------- BEGIN SOURCE ----------
import java.awt.Graphics;
import java.util.Stack;
import java.util.Vector;
import java.awt.event.*;

/** java demo code for CLSFractal.java from
* http://java.sun.com/applets/jdk/1.4/demo/applets/Fractal/example1.html
 * A (not-yet) Context sensitive L-System Fractal applet class.
 *
 * The rules for the Context L-system are read from the java.applet.Applet's
 * attributes and then the system is iteratively applied for the
 * given number of levels, possibly drawing each generation as it
 * is generated. Note that the ContextLSystem class does not yet
 * handle the lContext and rContext attributes, although this
 * class is already designed to parse the '[' and ']' characters
 * typically used in Context sensitive L-Systems.
 *
 * @author Jim Graham
 * @version 1.1f, 27 Mar 1995
 */
public class CLSFractal
    extends java.applet.Applet
    implements Runnable, MouseListener {
    Thread kicker;
    ContextLSystem cls;
    int fractLevel = 1;
    int repaintDelay = 50;
    boolean incrementalUpdates;
    float startAngle = 0;
    float rotAngle = 45;
    float Xmin;
    float Xmax;
    float Ymin;
    float Ymax;
    int border;
    boolean normalizescaling;

    public void init() {
String s;
cls = new ContextLSystem(this);
s = getParameter("level");
if (s != null) fractLevel = Integer.parseInt(s);
s = getParameter("incremental");
if (s != null) incrementalUpdates = s.equalsIgnoreCase("true");
s = getParameter("delay");
if (s != null) repaintDelay = Integer.parseInt(s);
s = getParameter("startAngle");
if (s != null) startAngle = Float.valueOf(s).floatValue();
s = getParameter("rotAngle");
if (s != null) rotAngle = Float.valueOf(s).floatValue();
rotAngle = rotAngle / 360 * 2 * 3.14159265358f;
s = getParameter("border");
if (s != null) border = Integer.parseInt(s);
s = getParameter("normalizescale");
if (s != null) normalizescaling = s.equalsIgnoreCase("true");
addMouseListener(this);
    }

    public void destroy() {
        removeMouseListener(this);
    }

    public void run() {
Thread me = Thread.currentThread();
boolean needsRepaint = false;
while (kicker == me && cls.getLevel() < fractLevel) {
cls.generate();
if (kicker == me && incrementalUpdates) {
repaint();
try {Thread.sleep(repaintDelay);} catch (InterruptedException e){}
} else {
needsRepaint = true;
}
}
if (kicker == me) {
kicker = null;
if (needsRepaint) {
repaint();
}
}
    }

    public void start() {
kicker = new Thread(this);
kicker.start();
    }

    public void stop() {
kicker = null;
    }

      /*1.1 event handling */
    public void mouseClicked(MouseEvent e) {
    }

    public void mousePressed(MouseEvent e) {
    }

    public void mouseReleased(MouseEvent e) {
        cls = new ContextLSystem(this);
        savedPath = null;
        start();
        e.consume();
    }

    public void mouseEntered(MouseEvent e) {
    }

    public void mouseExited(MouseEvent e) {
    }

    String savedPath;

    public void paint(Graphics g) {
String fractalPath = cls.getPath();
if (fractalPath == null) {
super.paint(g);
return;
}
if (savedPath == null || !savedPath.equals(fractalPath)) {
savedPath = fractalPath;
render(null, fractalPath);
}

for (int i = 0; i < border; i++) {
g.draw3DRect(i, i, getSize().width - i * 2, getSize().height - i * 2,false);
}
render(g, fractalPath);
    }

    void render(Graphics g, String path) {
Stack turtleStack = new Stack();
CLSTurtle turtle;

if (g == null) {
Xmin = 1E20f;
Ymin = 1E20f;
Xmax = -1E20f;
Ymax = -1E20f;
turtle = new CLSTurtle(startAngle, 0, 0, 0, 0, 1, 1);
} else {
float frwidth = Xmax - Xmin;
if (frwidth == 0)
frwidth = 1;
float frheight = Ymax - Ymin;
if (frheight == 0)
frheight = 1;
float xscale = (getSize().width - border * 2 - 1) / frwidth;
float yscale = (getSize().height - border * 2 - 1) / frheight;
int xoff = border;
int yoff = border;
if (normalizescaling) {
if (xscale < yscale) {
yoff += ((getSize().height - border * 2)
- ((Ymax - Ymin) * xscale)) / 2;
yscale = xscale;
} else if (yscale < xscale) {
xoff += ((getSize().width - border * 2)
- ((Xmax - Xmin) * yscale)) / 2;
xscale = yscale;
}
}
turtle = new CLSTurtle(startAngle, 0 - Xmin, 0 - Ymin,
xoff, yoff, xscale, yscale);
}

for (int pos = 0; pos < path.length(); pos++) {
switch (path.charAt(pos)) {
case '+':
turtle.rotate(rotAngle);
break;
case '-':
turtle.rotate(-rotAngle);
break;
case '[':
turtleStack.push(turtle);
turtle = new CLSTurtle(turtle);
break;
case ']':
turtle = (CLSTurtle) turtleStack.pop();
break;
case 'f':
turtle.jump();
break;
case 'F':
if (g == null) {
includePt(turtle.X, turtle.Y);
turtle.jump();
includePt(turtle.X, turtle.Y);
} else {
turtle.draw(g);
}
break;
default:
break;
}
}
    }

    void includePt(float x, float y) {
if (x < Xmin)
Xmin = x;
if (x > Xmax)
Xmax = x;
if (y < Ymin)
Ymin = y;
if (y > Ymax)
Ymax = y;
    }

  public String getAppletInfo() {
    return "Title: CLSFractal 1.1f, 27 Mar 1995 \nAuthor: Jim Graham \nA (not yet) Context Sensitive L-System production rule. \nThis class encapsulates a production rule for a Context Sensitive\n L-System \n(pred, succ, lContext, rContext). The matches() method, however, does not \n(yet) verify the lContext and rContext parts of the rule.";
  }

  public String[][] getParameterInfo() {
    String[][] info = {
      {"level", "int", "Maximum number of recursions. Default is 1."},
      {"incremental","boolean","Whether or not to repaint between recursions. Default is true."},
      {"delay","integer","Sets delay between repaints. Default is 50."},
      {"startAngle","float","Sets the starting angle. Default is 0."},
      {"rotAngle","float","Sets the rotation angle. Default is 45."},
      {"border","integer","Width of border. Default is 2."},
      {"normalizeScale","boolean","Whether or not to normalize the scaling. Default is true."},
      {"pred","String","Initializes the rules for Context Sensitive L-Systems."},
      {"succ","String","Initializes the rules for Context Sensitive L-Systems."},
      {"lContext","String","Initializes the rules for Context Sensitive L-Systems."},
      {"rContext","String","Initializes the rules for Context Sensitive L-Systems."}
    };
    return info;
  }
}

/**
 * A Logo turtle class designed to support Context sensitive L-Systems.
 *
 * This turtle performs a few basic maneuvers needed to support the
 * set of characters used in Context sensitive L-Systems "+-fF[]".
 *
 * @author Jim Graham
 * @version 1.1f, 27 Mar 1995
 */
class CLSTurtle {
    float angle;
    float X;
    float Y;
    float scaleX;
    float scaleY;
    int xoff;
    int yoff;

    public CLSTurtle(float ang, float x, float y,
int xorg, int yorg, float sx, float sy) {
angle = ang;
scaleX = sx;
scaleY = sy;
X = x * sx;
Y = y * sy;
xoff = xorg;
yoff = yorg;
    }

    public CLSTurtle(CLSTurtle turtle) {
angle = turtle.angle;
X = turtle.X;
Y = turtle.Y;
scaleX = turtle.scaleX;
scaleY = turtle.scaleY;
xoff = turtle.xoff;
yoff = turtle.yoff;
    }

    public void rotate(float theta) {
angle += theta;
    }

    public void jump() {
X += (float) Math.cos(angle) * scaleX;
Y += (float) Math.sin(angle) * scaleY;
    }

    public void draw(Graphics g) {
float x = X + (float) Math.cos(angle) * scaleX;
float y = Y + (float) Math.sin(angle) * scaleY;
g.drawLine((int) X + xoff, (int) Y + yoff,
(int) x + xoff, (int) y + yoff);
X = x;
Y = y;
    }
}

/**
 * A (non-)Context sensitive L-System class.
 *
 * This class initializes the rules for Context sensitive L-Systems
 * (pred, succ, lContext, rContext) from the given java.applet.Applet's attributes.
 * The generate() method, however, does not (yet) apply the lContext
 * and rContext parts of the rules.
 *
 * @author Jim Graham
 * @version 1.1f, 27 Mar 1995
 */
class ContextLSystem {
    String axiom;
    Vector rules = new Vector();
    int level;

    public ContextLSystem(java.applet.Applet app) {
axiom = app.getParameter("axiom");
int num = 1;
while (true) {
String pred = app.getParameter("pred"+num);
String succ = app.getParameter("succ"+num);
if (pred == null || succ == null) {
break;
}
rules.addElement(new CLSRule(pred, succ,
app.getParameter("lContext"+num),
app.getParameter("rContext"+num)));
num++;
}
currentPath = new StringBuffer(axiom);
level = 0;
    }

    public int getLevel() {
return level;
    }

    StringBuffer currentPath;

    public synchronized String getPath() {
return ((currentPath == null) ? null : currentPath.toString());
    }

    private synchronized void setPath(StringBuffer path) {
currentPath = path;
level++;
    }

    public void generate() {
StringBuffer newPath = new StringBuffer();
int pos = 0;
while (pos < currentPath.length()) {
CLSRule rule = findRule(pos);
if (rule == null) {
newPath.append(currentPath.charAt(pos));
pos++;
} else {
newPath.append(rule.succ);
pos += rule.pred.length();
}
}
setPath(newPath);
    }

    public CLSRule findRule(int pos) {
for (int i = 0; i < rules.size(); i++) {
CLSRule rule = (CLSRule) rules.elementAt(i);
if (rule.matches(currentPath, pos)) {
return rule;
}
}
return null;
    }
}

/**
 * A Context sensitive L-System production rule.
 *
 * This class encapsulates a production rule for a Context sensitive
 * L-System (pred, succ, lContext, rContext).
 * The matches() method, however, does not (yet) verify the lContext
 * and rContext parts of the rule.
 *
 * @author Jim Graham
 * @version 1.1f, 27 Mar 1995
 */
class CLSRule {
    String pred;
    String succ;
    String lContext;
    String rContext;

    public CLSRule(String p, String d, String l, String r) {
pred = p;
succ = d;
lContext = l;
rContext = r;
    }

    public boolean matches(StringBuffer sb, int pos) {
if (pos + pred.length() > sb.length()) {
return false;
}
char cb[] = new char[pred.length()];
sb.getChars(pos, pos + pred.length(), cb, 0);
return pred.equals(new String(cb));
    }
}
---------- END SOURCE ----------

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
Close the browser completely, and clear all temporary Internet Files via the Java control panel application (Start->Control Panel->Java->General tab->Temporary Internet Files->Settings...->Delete Files...->OK to Applications and Applets and Trace and Log Files), then restart browser.