How do I create executable Java program?

Question

Hi

I have programmed a Java Program in JCreator, everything is done, but I want to create an executable file from it, ie I dont want to have to run the program by loading the java classes and compiling then executing, but instead have it as a stand alone executable file.

What the quickest way to do this?

Thank You

Answer 1

Write a script and make it executable. The script should look like what you'd normally use at the command line:

java YourClass

This assumes you've already compiled your .java files and that the java can find your .class files. If java cannot find your .class files, you may want to look at using the -classpath option or setting your CLASSPATH environment variable.

Answer 2

this is a good response.

Personally, I'd go with an executable jar: standard and fast.

If you want a real executable, you can buy excelsior's excellent java compiler.

Answer 3

On the command line, navigate to the root directory of the Java files you wish to make executable.

Use this command:

jar -cvf [name of jar file] [name of directory with Java files]

This will create a directory called META-INF in the jar archive. In this META-INF there is a file called MANIFEST.MF, open this file in a text editor and add the following line:

Main-Class: [fully qualified name of your main class]

then use this command:

java -jar [name of jar file]

and your program will run :)

Answer 4

You could use GCJ to compile your Java program into native code.
At some time they even compiled Eclipse into a native version.

Answer 5

Take a look at launch4j

Answer 6

I'm not quite sure what you mean.

But I assume you mean either 1 of 2 things.

• You want to create an executable .jar file

Eclipse can do this really easily File --> Export and create a jar and select the appropriate Main-Class and it'll generate the .jar for you. In windows you may have to associate .jar with the java runtime. aka Hold shift down, Right Click "open with" browse to your jvm and associate it with javaw.exe

• create an actual .exe file then you need to use an extra library like

http://jsmooth.sourceforge.net/ or http://launch4j.sourceforge.net/ will create a native .exe stub with a nice icon that will essentially bootstrap your app. They even figure out if your customer hasn't got a JVM installed and prompt you to get one.

Answer 7

As suggested earlier too, you can look at launch4j to create the executable for your JAR file. Also, there is something called "JExePack" that can put an .exe wrapper around your jar file so that you can redistribute it (note: the client would anyways need a JRE to run the program on his pc) Exes created with GCJ will not have this dependency but the process is a little more involved.

Answer 8

Take a look at WinRun4J. It's windows only but that's because unix has executable scripts that look (to the user) like bins. You can also easily modify WinRun4J to compile on unix.

It does require a config file, but again, recompile it with hard-coded options and it works like a config-less exe.

Answer 9

Unless you have a specific reason to use JCreator, I'd advise you to use NetBeans or Eclipse, they'll do all the work for you.