To me, patches are something that are applied to source code and recompiled to correct errors. Adding dynamic libs etc. may be called 'patches' by the vendors, but they are not really patches, per se. In all technologies, the use of terms and changing uses of terms are always a core source of confusion.
So, because a vendor provides dynamic libs in 'patch format' does not make them 'patches'. In many systems, they are simply 'the libraries', etc. Installing libs are not patching source code and recompiling; so as a newbie, you need to be aware of that. All you did was install dynamic libs (reuseable binary modules)and these libs may or maynot be used for other distributions besides your Java JDK install.
BTW, if installing reuseable code modules (libs) were patches, then the entire concept of object oriented programming would then be called 'patchwork'!!
On your circular links, you need to look at the filesystem and study the links that have been created to trace down the problem. I suggest you look at the books recommended in threads in this forum (do a search) and get a good book on shell programming. It is time to close this particular thread, IMHO. Great job getting your JDK up and running.
BTW: If you can't get your circular links problem solved, please feel free to start a new thread on that particular problem/issue.
Perhaps others (in the future) with similar lib problems will find this thread helpful also.
[Edited by Neo on 01-26-2001 at 06:49 PM]