I would like to know if it is possible to configure the Java VM used by Eclipse to run in this way, that it uses JavaFX SDK libraries.
Please be aware! I don't want to build JavaFX applications on my own in Eclipse, e.g. by using E(fx)clipse or other plugins.
Another remark: I don't use Java development perspective in Eclipse or a Java project. So it won't work to add the external .jars of JavaFX as user libraries!
In my use case I have an third-party GUI application based on JavaFX that has to be started out of Eclipse.
If I try to start this application I receive the following error:
The system reqirements are not met.
Could not find: javafx.properties
in:
/Applications/Eclipse.app/Contents/Eclipse/plugins/org.eclipse.justj.openjdk.hotspot.jre.full.macosx.x86_64_17.0.2.v20220201-1208/jre/lib
Your Java Virtual Machine seems not to support JavaFX,
required to run the XXX.
Please make sure you provide a valid path to the Java FX
modules during gui installation.
As you can see by the error message my Eclipse runs on a MacOS x64 system.
But I think the way to configure the VM of Eclipse should work on each system the same way.
Thank you.
Steve
If you have a third-party GUI application, then you do not need an IDE like Eclipse.
Ideally the publisher of your app would have provided the app as a package that includes the JavaFX/OpenJFX libraries as well as all the parts of a JDK/JVM needed to run that app on your Mac.
If the publisher gave you only the bare-bones app without the needed libraries & JDK/JVM, you can obtain a JDK/JVM bundled with those libraries.
At least two vendors supply a JDK with JavaFX/OpenJFX libraries:
ZuluFX by Azul Systems
LibericaFX by BellSoft
Both are available free-of-cost with optional support plans available for sale. Download either product as an installer specific to your Mac, while paying attention to either Intel-based Mac or Apple Silicon (ARM, AArch64) based Mac.
You can verify the install by using a console such as Terminal.app to run:
java --version
… and:
which java
You can also use the Finder to locate your installed JVMs by choosing Go > Go to Folder… where you paste:
/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines
If your app contains the necessary MANIFEST.MF file, you may be able to launch your app by double-clicking. If not, use a console such as Terminal.app with the java command to launch the app.
I have a JavaFX project and I'm trying to get an executable exe file from it. I use launch4j and Inno setup wizard technologies for it. My exe file works only in computers which have java in them, but doesn't work in computers that don't have java installed.
I want to create exe file so it includes JRE, so it works in all computers.
I am showing how I do it in this video
Please help me understand what I'm doing wrong. Thank you.
In java8 you can use "Javapackager". You don't need launch4j or innosetup.
Additionnaly From version java 13 (available in early-access) there is a tool named "jPackage" with which you can create an msi, exe, deb or rpm depending on your OS and options. But there will be a little difficulty, because javaFX is no more packaged in the jdk, and you need a module declaration to make work the tools chain (jlink then jpackage)
It's a lot of work to upgrade your project from 8 to 13, but it could be usefull for later consultation of your question:
see https://openjdk.java.net/jeps/343
I'm having some trouble getting IntelliJ to output my packaged JAR file so I can run it directly from the command line.
Are there any free stand alone packagers which I can use to manually add all my JARs and specify my main class which will properly package the JAR? I'm really only interested in a packager, not an installer with fancy windows etc.
I'm using Ubuntu and developing JavaFX applications.
I did find these and these links... I'll give Install Builder and lzPack a go and hopefully report back with a positive result.
UPDATE
Install Builder seems to require a paid license to distribute your packaged jars. Unfortunately izPack does not seem to work when I execute it from the command line using Java 9. Crashes out.
Trying Oracle's javapackager command tool next.
Looks like I need to use Ant to deploy standalone JavaFX applications.
I am working on a large JavaFX application which is due for deployment. I want to wrap the .jar files with Launch4j and create an installer using Inno Setup. However, I am having trouble with the process.
When using Launch4j, it spits out these errors (see 1). However, despite these errors, everything works perfectly fine using an MWE I created to verify that Launch4j wraps jar files properly. The MWE is just a small JavaFX application, where I use Launch4j to generate an .exe file and use Inno Setup to generate an installer. I can install this MWE with no issues using the generated installer and run the app. As mentioned, however, when I follow this exact same approach for my large application, which does have a lot more dependencies, I am not able to run the application after using the generated installer.
I searched for solutions to this and found this work-around using Inno Setup (see ban-geoengineering's answer):
How do I bundle a JRE into an EXE for a Java Application? Launch4j says "runtime is missing or corrupted."
I followed the steps mentioned but am still not able to run the application after generating the jar wrapper with Launch4j and running the generated installer created by Inno Setup. When I try to run the app, simply nothing happens.
Application information and development environment
The application utilizes custom-made java libraries developed in-house which act as an intermediary to communicate with a device's eSW through a custom interface. These java libraries and device drivers are needed in order to communicate with the device and need to be delivered with the application, as in included with the installer. I am using IntelliJ IDEA 2018.1 under Windows 10 Enterprise. The JDK is version 9.0.4.
Steps taken prior to using Launch4j and Inno Setup
I have followed the steps mentioned here https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/creating-and-running-your-first-java-application.html#package to package the application. I can successfully run the application via the commandline using java [options] -jar nameOfJar. The application needs certain VM options in order to communicate with the device drivers, and I am suspecting the issue lies here when generating the .exe file and generating the installer.
Addition 1
I have tried to add a custom classpath in Launch4j. It seems that Launch4j does identify the jars that the main class is dependent on, as it includes all the proper jar files (see 3).
I have in addition to this tried to mimic the JVM options I use to run the application via the commandline (see 4).
When executing the application it spits out NoClassDefFoundError and says it is due to the com/demant/gearbox/corona/model/GBCManager. However, this should already be included via the jar file com.demant.gearbox.corona.model.jar, as you can see in 3.
But, as you can see from both 3 and 4 the NoClassDefFoundError is still thrown.
I'm new to the programming scene. Been working with C++ for about 5 months now, and have decided I want to start getting into Java. I'm using Eclipse as my IDE, and obviously Java for the language. I'm trying to write a simple HelloWorld application, which can be run through a command prompt executable.
In Visual Studio, it seems it's rather easy to create an executable. All I've ever had to do is use a pull down arrow and choose Release, and then run my build. The purpose of wanting to be able to write/run Java in command prompt is so that I'm able to practice some of the language basics before I go in full force with Swing.
So bottom line, what is the easiest way to create a command prompt .exe written with Java?
Thanks in advance!
Java doesn't natively allow building of an exe, that would defeat its purpose of being cross-platform.
AFAIK, these are your options:
Make a runnable JAR. If the system supports it and is configured appropriately, in a GUI, double clicking the JAR will launch the app. Another option would be to write a launcher shell script/batch file which will start your JAR with the appropriate parameters
There also executable wrappers - see How can I convert my Java program to an .exe file?
See also:
Convert Java to EXE: Why, When, When Not and How
Creating a native installer using jpackage
A java packaging tool named jpackage was released as part of the Java Development Kit (JDK) version 16.
This tool works in conjunction with native packaging tools for various platforms (e.g. WIX for Windows, RPM, and DEB for Linux distributions, DMG for Mac) to allow building native installers for Java applications which can then be run as executables. For distribution, it may be possible to distribute just the executable for the application, independent of the installer (I don't know, I didn't try that).
A nice, tutorial style, blog post that describes the use of the jpackage tool to create a native Windows installer for a Java application is:
How to create a Windows Native Java application (generating .exe file)?
Customizing the runtime image using jlink and jdeps
The packaging tool can (optionally) be combined with the jlink tool:
jlink - assemble and optimize a set of modules and their dependencies into a custom runtime image
This allows you to customize the runtime image for your application to only include the required custom selected modular parts of your application code, java runtime, and 3rd party libraries, rather than distributing a complete java runtime.
Optionally, you can also use the jdeps tool to determine inputs to jlink.
Complete discussion of usage of jdeps + jlink + jpackage + a native bundle creator (e.g. wix/rpm/deb/dmg) is outside of scope for a StackOverflow answer, but various resources can be found on the web if you search.
Creating a standalone .exe instead of an installer
This can be done using warp-packer to create a exe out of the image and app launcher created by jlink.
How to create a standalone .exe in Java (that runs without an installer and a JRE)
Third party tools can help deliver a solution
If you wish to use all these tools in combination, things can get complicated, and I'd advise using a 3rd party utility or template to help perform this task. For example:
badass-jlink-plugin (documentation) -> "allows you to create custom runtime images for modular applications with minimal effort. It also lets you create an application installer with the jpackage tool."
For JavaFX specific applications (as your question has a JavaFX tag), you could review:
JPackageScriptFX -> "demonstrates how projects can use scripts to build self-contained, platform-specific executables and installers of their JavaFX applications via the jdeps, jlink, and jpackage tools."
For native mobile deployments, see Gluon Mobile
This question was Windows specific, but for completeness, if your target is native application deployment on a mobile device, then likely you will need to use a 3rd party solution such as Gluon Mobile.
Background Rationale (ignore if not needed)
creating a native installer using jpackage might be a bit of work, so why would you do it?
Here are some reasons:
When an application is distributed via an installer created using jpackage, that application can be installed on a target system without requiring the user to manually install other dependencies (such as a Java Runtime). The installer will take care of ensuring that your application and any dependencies it requires are installed.
The application ships with its own customized version of the Java Runtime. This means that if the user doesn't install a JRE, and, if they have installed a version of the JRE which is incompatible with your application, your application will still function correctly.
The application can be installed and uninstalled using standard OS facilities for the target platform. Most users of those platforms are familiar with these.
Yes, Java is cross-platform for the most part, but many users don't care much about that, instead they just want a smooth and familiar installation (and uninstallation) experience for their application and jpackage can help accomplish that.
Typical Java programs compile into .jar files, which can be executed like .exe files provided the target machine has Java installed and that Java is in its PATH. From Eclipse you use the Export menu item from the File menu.
Creating .exe distributions isn't typical for Java. While such wrappers do exist, the normal mode of operation is to create a .jar file.
To create a .jar file from a Java project in Eclipse, use file->export->java->Jar file. This will create an archive with all your classes.
On the command prompt, use invocation like the following:
java -cp myapp.jar foo.bar.MyMainClass