FULL PRODUCT VERSION :
java version "1.8.0_45"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_45-b15)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 25.45-b02, mixed mode)


java version "1.8.0_60-ea"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_60-ea-b13)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 25.60-b12, mixed mode, sharing)

ADDITIONAL OS VERSION INFORMATION :
Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Mac OSX all

A DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM :
Starting with update 40, startup time and application performance degraded severely.

Thousands of our users have experienced the same and reported this issue.

Startup time has increased 5 times from 30 seconds to 150 seconds.

The issue is not reproducible when running the application outside of web start.

NOTE: Application resource jars are signed by valid cert. JNLP is dynamic and cannot be signed.

Java profiling with YourKit indicates > 90% of load time within getResourceAsStream methods shown below as the system loads approximately 150 small image icons used by the application.

com.sun.deploy.security.DeployUrlClassLoader.getResourceAsStream(String)
java.lang.Class.getResourceAsStream(String)





REGRESSION. Last worked in version 8u31

ADDITIONAL REGRESSION INFORMATION:
java version "1.8.0_45"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_45-b15)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 25.45-b02, mixed mode)

the issue also is present in EA 8u60 b13

java version "1.8.0_60-ea"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_60-ea-b13)
Java HotSpot(TM) Client VM (build 25.60-b12, mixed mode, sharing)

STEPS TO FOLLOW TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM :
Sample application JNLP included:

http://www.planwithvoyant.co.uk/voyant/lwos/Windows/b032e6ec-b24c-450b-a3d4-c0ca69ee6a51/engage/33e402190a50162701f72949dce6e71e/voy.jnlp

Launch with 8u31 and observe that login screen loads in under 30 seconds (after application resource download)..

Launch with 8u40, 8u45, or 8u60b13 and observe that login screen loads in over two minutes. (again after application resource download

EXPECTED VERSUS ACTUAL BEHAVIOR :
EXPECTED -
Expect performance to be roughly the same between 8u31 and 8u45
ACTUAL -
Load time and application performance is severely degraded with 8u40. Performance degradation by a factor of 5 at least.

REPRODUCIBILITY :
This bug can be reproduced always.

CUSTOMER SUBMITTED WORKAROUND :
NONE - must revert to 8u31 to avoid the issue

SUPPORT :
YES