diff --git a/Gemfile b/Gemfile
index 2fae54b..bf53e96 100644
--- a/Gemfile
+++ b/Gemfile
@@ -8,3 +8,12 @@ gem 'selenium-client', '>= 1.2.17'
 gem 'database_cleaner'
 gem 'exception_notification', '1.0.20090728'
 gem 'system_timer'
+
+def program(name)
+  unless system("which #{name} > /dev/null")
+    puts "W: Program #{name} is needed, but was not found in your PATH"
+  end
+end
+
+program 'java'
+program 'firefox'
--
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