java - is it possible to choose version number when compile a file?

Question

I've wrote a java code and compiled it. (foo1.6.class) According to my search, my local machine has Java 1.6, and the tomcat server that I uploaded foo1.6.class only accepts version number 1.5 This means that I have to have Java 1.5 to compile?

I believe it is the cause that bad version number error is thrown like below.

My question is, is there any way I can compile my Java file using 1.5 version number? Looked at javac cmd but seems like it is not part of the option. But I don't think remove 1.6 and install Java 1.5 for this reason is not really good option neither. How do people deal with this kind of situation?

Thanks in advance!

exception

javax.servlet.ServletException: Bad version number in .class file (unable to load class resume_builder.ResumeBuilder)
    org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet.service(JspServlet.java:273)
    javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:803)

root cause

java.lang.UnsupportedClassVersionError: Bad version number in .class file (unable to load class resume_builder.ResumeBuilder)
    org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.findClassInternal(WebappClassLoader.java:1884)
    org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.findClass(WebappClassLoader.java:889)
    org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1353)
    org.apache.catalina.loader.WebappClassLoader.loadClass(WebappClassLoader.java:1232)
    org.apache.jasper.servlet.JasperLoader.loadClass(JasperLoader.java:128)
    org.apache.jasper.servlet.JasperLoader.loadClass(JasperLoader.java:66)
    java.lang.ClassLoader.loadClassInternal(ClassLoader.java:320)
    java.lang.Class.getDeclaredConstructors0(Native Method)
    java.lang.Class.privateGetDeclaredConstructors(Class.java:2357)
    java.lang.Class.getConstructor0(Class.java:2671)
    java.lang.Class.newInstance0(Class.java:321)
    java.lang.Class.newInstance(Class.java:303)
    org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServletWrapper.getServlet(JspServletWrapper.java:142)
    org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServletWrapper.service(JspServletWrapper.java:311)
    org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet.serviceJspFile(JspServlet.java:315)
    org.apache.jasper.servlet.JspServlet.service(JspServlet.java:265)
    javax.servlet.http.HttpServlet.service(HttpServlet.java:803)

Answer 1

You can use javac -target 1.5 -source 1.5.

The Java compiler allows you to use a lower than it's current target version number only if you also use a source compatibility version that is not higher than the target (there are execptions for source versions below 1.4).

Answer 2

javac -help
Usage: javac <options> <source files>
where possible options include:
  -g                         Generate all debugging info
  -g:none                    Generate no debugging info
  -g:{lines,vars,source}     Generate only some debugging info
  -nowarn                    Generate no warnings
  -verbose                   Output messages about what the compiler is doing
  -deprecation               Output source locations where deprecated APIs are used
  -classpath <path>          Specify where to find user class files and annotation processors
  -cp <path>                 Specify where to find user class files and annotation processors
  -sourcepath <path>         Specify where to find input source files
  -bootclasspath <path>      Override location of bootstrap class files
  -extdirs <dirs>            Override location of installed extensions
  -endorseddirs <dirs>       Override location of endorsed standards path
  -proc:{none,only}          Control whether annotation processing and/or compilation is done.
  -processor <class1>[,<class2>,<class3>...]Names of the annotation processors to run; bypasses default discovery process
  -processorpath <path>      Specify where to find annotation processors
  -d <directory>             Specify where to place generated class files
  -s <directory>             Specify where to place generated source files
  -implicit:{none,class}     Specify whether or not to generate class files for implicitly referenced files 
  -encoding <encoding>       Specify character encoding used by source files
  -source <release>          Provide source compatibility with specified release
  -target <release>          Generate class files for specific VM version
  -version                   Version information
  -help                      Print a synopsis of standard options
  -Akey[=value]              Options to pass to annotation processors
  -X                         Print a synopsis of nonstandard options
  -J<flag>                   Pass <flag> directly to the runtime system

Note the -source and -target arguments?

Answer 3

The right answer in your situation is the -source and -target flags as pointed out by x4u.

You ask about needing to uninstall Java 6 to be able to install Java 5. This is rarely necessary. The "javac" compiler comes with the JDK, and it is possible to have many of these installed. You may consider installing the Java 5 JDK without uninstalling Java 6, and then just compile with javac from that installation. This will ensure that your code will run with a Java 5 runtime (and is what I personally do).