diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index f6a10c1..d6dbc92 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -6,6 +6,10 @@ semantic.cache
 html/
 help.html
 maxent.jar
+bin/
+tests/
+.vscode
+.settings
 
 # Windows image file caches
 Thumbs.db
diff --git a/density/Extractor.java b/density/Extractor.java
index 9f7fa59..7922f7d 100644
--- a/density/Extractor.java
+++ b/density/Extractor.java
@@ -182,7 +182,7 @@ else if (!grids[i].getDimension().equals(dimension))
 	    return;
 	}
 	features = new Feature[ngrids];
-	final float[][] vals = new float[numBackground][ngrids];
+	final double[][] vals = new double[numBackground][ngrids];
 	int c=0;
 	for (int i=0; i<numBackground; i++)
 	    vals[c++] = randextract[i].vals;
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ public int compare(Object o1, Object o2) {
 	int sample=0;
 	int chosen=0;
 	long seen=0;
-	float[] vals = new float[ngrids];
+	double[] vals = new double[ngrids];
 	boolean[] hasData = new boolean[ngrids];
 	for (int r=0; r<nr; r++) {
 	    Utils.reportProgress((r*100)/(double)nr);
@@ -271,14 +271,14 @@ public int compare(Object o1, Object o2) {
 		    seen++;
 		    if (chosen<n)
 			randextract[chosen++] = 
-			    new Rc(r,c,(float[]) vals.clone());
+			    new Rc(r,c,vals.clone());
 		    else {
 			long rnd = (seen < Integer.MAX_VALUE) ?
 			    Utils.generator.nextInt((int) seen) :
 			    Utils.generator.nextLong() % seen;
 			if(rnd < n)
 			    randextract[(int) rnd] =
-				new Rc(r,c,(float[]) vals.clone());
+				new Rc(r,c,vals.clone());
 		    }
 		}
 	    }
diff --git a/density/MaxEnt.java b/density/MaxEnt.java
index 2beb6f9..b9bbd82 100644
--- a/density/MaxEnt.java
+++ b/density/MaxEnt.java
@@ -29,17 +29,6 @@ a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the
 
 public class MaxEnt {
 
-    static void checkVersion() {
-	String version = System.getProperties().getProperty("java.version");
-	double v = Double.parseDouble(version.substring(0,3));
-	// can't call Utils, as Utils needs 1.4 to load (prefs.Preferences)
-	//	if (v < 1.4) Utils.fatalException("Java version is " + version + ", need 1.4 or later", null);
-	if (v < 1.5) {
-	    JOptionPane.showMessageDialog(null, "Java version is " + version + ", but Maxent needs 1.5 or later.", "Error", JOptionPane.ERROR_MESSAGE);
-	    System.exit(1);
-	}
-    }
-
     public static void main(String args[]) {
 	final Params params = new Params();
 	params.readFromArgs(args);
@@ -47,13 +36,11 @@ public static void main(String args[]) {
 	if (params.getboolean("visible")) {
 	    javax.swing.SwingUtilities.invokeLater(new Runnable() {
 		    public void run() {
-			checkVersion();
 			createAndShowGUI(params);
 		    }
 		});
 	}
 	else {
-	    checkVersion();
 	    params.setSelections();
 	    Runner runner = new Runner(params);
 	    runner.start();
diff --git a/density/Utils.java b/density/Utils.java
index 20883cf..f898dfa 100644
--- a/density/Utils.java
+++ b/density/Utils.java
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ a copy of this software and associated documentation files (the
 
 public class Utils {
 
-    static String version = "3.4.4";
+    static String version = "3.4.5";
     static boolean interrupt=false, warnings=true;
     public static boolean verbose=false, visible=true;
     static JFrame topLevelFrame = null;
diff --git a/readme.txt b/readme.txt
index c4471e0..cf11a74 100644
--- a/readme.txt
+++ b/readme.txt
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ Miro Dudik          (mdudik@microsoft.com)
 Steven Phillips     (mrmaxent@gmail.com)
 Rob Schapire        (schapire@microsoft.com)
 
-Version 3.4.3, November 2020
+Version 3.4.5, April 2026
 
 This file outlines the steps you should take to begin using maxent to
 model species geographic distributions.  To download the program, or
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ This software is distributed under the MIT License.
 Downloading the Software
 ------------------------
 The software consists of a jar file, maxent.jar, which can be used on
-any computer running Java version 1.5 or later.  Note that if you are
+any computer running Java version 1.8 or later.  Note that if you are
 using a 64-bit computer, you will also need to be using a 64-bit
 version of Java.
 
@@ -76,11 +76,11 @@ maxent.jar.  Alternatively, you might get a response like this:
 
    the java class could not be loaded. 
    java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: density/maxent (unsupported 
-   major.minor version 49.0)
+   major.minor version 52.0)
 
 which means that the version of java that is installed on your PC is
 out of date.  To verify this, open a command window and type "java
--version".  You'll probably find that it is older than 1.5, which is
+-version".  You'll probably find that it is older than 1.8, which is
 the oldest version recommended for use with Maxent.  To get a new
 version, go to java.sun.com, and look for downloads for the Java
 runtime environment (JRE).
@@ -104,12 +104,12 @@ install from java.sun.com as above), or Java is not mentioned in your
    variable in the Systems Variable section and click edit.  Add the
    directory where the java executable is.  
 
-For example, if you downloaded Java 1.6.0_13, it was probably
-installed in C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_13, in
-which case you will add ";C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_13\bin" to
+For example, if you downloaded Java 26, it was probably
+installed in C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-26, in
+which case you will add ";C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-26\bin" to
 the end of the path variable, like in the following example:
 
-      C:\Program Files;C:\Winnt;C:\Winnt\System32;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_13\bin
+      C:\Program Files;C:\Winnt;C:\Winnt\System32;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-26\bin
 
 
 2.  If the program gives "out-of-memory" or "heap space" errors, it
@@ -117,6 +117,9 @@ may be because you are clicking on the maxent.jar file.  You need to
 click on the maxent.bat file instead.  If this is not the problem,
 click on the "help" button for more advice.
 
+Main Changes in Version 3.4.5:
+-----------------------------
+   Removed Java version checking due to inconsistencies in version numbering in ARM JDK releases.
 
 Main Changes in Version 3.4.4:
 -----------------------------