I am very new to Java (first-year student). I tried searching for similar questions but can't find anything that exactly meets my needs. I am trying to figure out how to create a JRE installer for Windows that includes additional files beyond the standard libraries. In particular, I am trying to use files from this source: http://jlog.org/rxtx-win.html. I want the RXTXSerial.dll file to go into the "bin" folder, and the rxtxcomm.jar file to go into the "lib\ext" folder.
Ideally, this would be used by a user who isn't good with computers at all, so that all they would have to do is run the JRE installer, and already have the necessary RXTX files needed to run an external application (that I unfortunately don't have any control over).
Take a look at install4j...
https://www.ej-technologies.com/products/install4j/overview.html
Not sure if this is exactly what you're looking for, but you should be able to control what JRE/libs are deployed with your application using this.
Related
I'm very new to java. I'm developing a tool that checks if your PC meets some set of specifications. This included writing and executing a separate batch file and including an API (SIGAR) for the model of the CPU.
My problem is that when I tried exporting it to Runnable JAR in eclipse, and I ran the resulting JAR from command line, it gave me lots of 'DLL not included in build path' Exceptions. After including the folder that contains the API DLL in the build path, I got similar exceptions. The thing that fixed it was adding the folder containing the DLL to environment variables (PATH) in Advanced System Settings.
Questions:
The JAR now works fine on my computer, but what about the users who download the JAR? Will they also need to add the DLL to environment variables? If so is there a way the JAR can do that for them?
My JAR won't run with a double-click, but will run from command line. Is there any way around this that will carry over to users who download the JAR too?
If the user downloads the tool and can't run it because they don't have the right version of the JRE, will the tool notify them? If not, is there a way around the user having to update JRE or will wrapping as an EXE suffice?
Thanks in advance, much appreciated. Lots of questions.
Q1: The JAR now works fine on my computer, but what about the users
who download the JAR? Will they also need to add the DLL to
environment variables? If so is there a way the JAR can do that for
them?
You can put a DLL inside a JAR file:
How to make a JAR file that includes DLL files? (Hint: read both answers ... completely.)
However, when you distribute a JAR containing a DLL, you then have the problem that different platforms require different DLLs (or whatever). Even with Windows you have the problem of 32 bit versus 64 bit DLLs.
Q2: My JAR won't run with a double-click, but will run from command
line. Is there any way around this that will carry over to users who
download the JAR too?
You cannot address that problem in a JAR file. The "double-click to run" functionality is implemented by the OS. The best way to provide this kind of functionality is using (platform specific) wrapper scripts that are double-clickable.
Q3: If the user downloads the tool and can't run it because they don't
have the right version of the JRE, will the tool notify them? If not,
is there a way around the user having to update JRE or will wrapping
as an EXE suffice?
Unless you have a JRE installed, the JAR file is just a passive blob of data. (A ZIP file, actually).
If the user has a JRE that is too old, then either the JRE will be unable to load any classes in the JAR (because the classfile version number is wrong), or you will get errors because of missing (system) classes.
The only hope would to do something like providing a wrapper script to launch your application that checked the JRE version before attempting to launch the JAR.
As a general rule, if you want to do fancy stuff like this you need to distribute your program in an installer, not as a bare JAR file.
I know this question has been asked many a times and all the time there is an answer which says about using an executable jar or making an .exe using launch4j or similar app.
I may sound like a novice, which I actually am.
I have been trying a few things with a Java project. I have successfully made an executable jar and also an .exe file from it. All thanks to your previous answers in SO :)
But, I want to create a installer for Windows. Like, pressing Next for 2 - 3 times(which shows all the terms and conditions etc), then a user specify a location(like C:\Program Files\New Folder\My App), then my .exe, lib folder, img folder, other important folders get pasted in the destination folder along with the .exe file and then a shortcut is created on a desktop.
Any pointers to how can I achieve this ?
I have been using InnoSetup for a long time. It has always worked very well. It can do everything you need (unpack files, put shortcuts on desktop, start menu etc) and generates installers that we are used to.
If you want free and open source, you could take a look IzPack. We use this at work for its command line support in our builder.
You could also take a look install4j which is a commercial product we've trialed on and off before (but when it comes to spending money, you tend to want to know you're getting what you want ;))
If you are on JDK 13 or above, you can package any Java program along with its runtime by using the default packaging tool in the JDK called jpackage.
jpackage can create installers for Linux, Mac and Windows operating system.
You can create a specific runtime by using jlink.
jpackage needs some 3rd party free software for creating Windows bundles:
* To create .exe bundle, it uses Wix
* To create .msi bundle, it uses Inno
Wix is now the only dependency to create both exe and msi bundles.
All the details about jpackage can be found at JEP 343: Packaging Tool.
Edit: I'll leave this here for reference, but note: The Java plug-in needed to launch JWS and applets was removed by browser manufacturers, and both were deprecated in Java 9 and removed from the API.
Use Java Web Start.
Like, pressing Next for 2 - 3 times (which shows all the terms and conditions etc)
The ExtensionInstallerService of the JNLP API provides this. Here is a demo. of the installer service.
..then a user specify a location(like C:\Program Files\New Folder\My App), ..
The ExtensionInstallerService provides a method getInstallPath() which..
Returns the directory where the installer is recommended to install the extension in. It is not required that the installer install in this directory, this is merely a suggested path.
That is not quite the same as what you are asking, but then I think it is generally a bad idea to allow the user that level of control.
then my .exe, lib folder, img folder, other important folders get pasted in the destination folder along with the .exe file ..
JWS installs the resources mentioned in the JNLP automatically, as and when they are needed. Further, it updates the resources if the archives on the server change.
and then a shortcut is created on a desktop.
JWS can supply desktop shortcuts and menu items on supported systems.
E.G.
From How to run Java programs by clicking on their icon on Windows?
This answer, which shows a JWS app. installed in 'Programs and Features', with the desktop icon to the left of it.
I was in the same situation a few months ago. After trying out a lot. I suggest NSIS. There is a nice plug-in for Eclipse EclipseNSIS with some templates. It helps a lot to get a basic installer with just some easy clicks. If the resulting code is not sufficient you can do the rest work by coding, but most of the code is generated by EclipseNSIS.
You can also use Advanced Installer. Since you already have an EXE to launch your JAR, you don't need to use the Java Launcher support from Advanced Installer, you can create a Simple project, which is available in the free edition, so you don't need to purchase a license.
It will take you maximum 10 minutes to install it and create the setup package, as you will see it is very easy to learn using it.
use Launch4j to create exe file. you must give the relative path to jre folder.
next use Inno Setup to make setup. You can bundle jre inside the installer.
I've use it and it works like a magic. I can show details.
I wanted to share another project. This project have two part:updating your desktop app and ready installers for mac os, linux, windows. If you want only installer so you can adopt for your needs documentation in this way you should replace starter-core-1.0.jar with your jar
I'm new to Linux and I've only ever messed around with it but now I want to allow my Java program to run on Linux...
I've had a quick look around on the internet, and I've found a list of directories and their discriptions. /usr/lib seems to be the best place for me to store program information, but I've just looked in there on my VirtualBox VM and it appears that I can't write there, even with root permissions. So if anyone can point me in the right direction that would be brilliant.
I have also noticed that Linux has it's own "Software Center", and I'm afraid that I may be going to wrong way about all this, so may be some sort of introduction to programming on Linux would help if anybody would be kind enough to provide one!
Thanks In Advance
PS My Virtual Machine is an Ubuntu distribution
The file system structure of not only Linux, but any POSIX-compatible system (including BSD, Solaris, and to a lesser degree even Mac OS X) are standardized in the FHS. Specifically for Ubuntu, have a look at the Debian policy for Java and the packaging guide of the ubuntu-java team.
If your program is run interactively, it should store information(like databases and settings) in $HOME/.your-program-name (or $HOME/.config/your-program-name). If your program is a system service, it should store its information in /var/lib. You can also install a default configuration into /etc/your-program-name.
The binaries are a whole different deal, and a prefix to their location should be configurable. To get the full advantage of the Software Center and its dependency/update mechanisms, package your software. These binaries(and the libraries that go with them) will go into to /usr/ tree if packaged, and /usr/local/ if manually installed. No matter the prefix, binaries go into bin (i.e. /usr/bin), libraries into lib32/lib64, and other data into share.
If you don't want to package your program and don't want to follow the structure imposed by FHS (but you really should do that), the alternative is putting code and other objects into /opt/your-program-name. Note that the (mutable) data your program generates and operates on should still go into $HOME/.your-program-name(interactive) or /var/lib/your-program-name(service).
Store it under the home directory of the user, who is running the program - in a hidden directory (preceded with dot), for example: .program-data. The short path to it would be: ~/.program-data and a full path to it depends on the distro of the OS - usually /home/[user name]/.program-data
The simplest place to store an application is in a home directory. You may want to create a user and separate home directory for a service.
However it sounds like you are writing a command line or GUI tool in Java. A common place to store applications is under a bin directory like /usr/local/bin or /home/myuser/bin lib is usually for shared libraries loaded by applications. (Java doesn't use them)
You should always store/install applications & programs in $HOME directory.
This will allow you to easily find the applications & programs.
Make separate folders for Softwares & Programs under $HOME for easily identification.
Also, add JAVA_HOME environment variable in .bashrc file.
I have written a small java application for one of my homework. the problem is the teacher may not have JRE installed. what i want to id to compile the java file to window exe file so the teacher can run it without the JRE installed.
i use the gcj tool in the cygwin , but the output application seem to need the cygwin1.dll to run. how can i avoid this, IE package all the things the application need to a single file, so the teacher don't have to install anything.
Use MinGW instead of Cygwin.
And get ready for a 10-MiB executable.
Why don't you just ask your teacher to install a JRE, or if they have one? If you are allowed to use Java, then I'm certain the teacher will be required to have the tools for properly evaluating your homework.
If you weren't allowed to use Java, well then, what were were you thinking?
The application seem to need the cygwin1.dll to run.
Shipping an .exe with an cluster of .dll files is the norm on Windows.
If you use Microsoft Visual Studio, your program will also need be shipped with some libraries from the Visual Studio Redistributable Run-Time. (Unless you link it statically.) Most major applications on Windows have installation directories chock full of dll files, and won't run without them.
In the middle of 2016, the Cygwin project changed the licensing from GPL to LGPL. This means you can link programs with to cygwin1.dll and redistribute them, even if those programs have a license that is not compatible with the regular GPL, such as closed-source, non-freely-redistributable, proprietary programs. (If you otherwise comply with the LGPL in regard to how you are redistributing cygwin1.dll itself, of course).
IE package all the things the application need to a single file, so the teacher don't have to install anything.
The only way not to install anything is not to have a file at all. If there is a single file it has to be put somewhere, and that meets the definition of installation. On Windows, if you have a .exe file that depends on a .dll, all you have to ensure is that they are put into the same directory. This requirement can be met as easily as by putting them into a .zip file, if the program is too unimportant to warrant developing a full blown installer.
Your teacher unzips your .zip file on their Desktop, or in their Downloads directory. A folder should appear, and in that folder is your program and the dll. The program can be invoked and loads the dll; no brainer.
I have a Windows application based on Java, that I should like to install with Java bundled. The installation framework is NSIS. The application executable should be guaranteed to invoke the bundled Java, so there's no clash with other Javas installed in the system.
What's the best way to achieve my goal? I haven't tried to solve this kind of problem before, and have little experience with Java, so I don't know which solutions are out there. I think I'd prefer Java to be embedded in the application's executable, if feasible, otherwise I guess Java could be installed along with it (with the executable pointing to said Java).
Edit:
This project already generates an executable (.exe), via NSIS. The executable will by default use the system Java, but apparently it'll prefer a JRE in the same directory (i.e. bundled) if present.
Edit 2:
The scenario that made me want to bundle Java with this application was that I received an executable for it built with 32-bit Java, which failed (silently) on my system which has 64-bit Java.
Are you absolutely sure you don't want to use the computer JRE? In most cases it's preferable.
You can see here (and the included link) some examples with installers that check JRE number and install it (globally) if necessary.
If you really prefer to include your own JRE in the installer and always use it - what prevents you from doing it? It's just a matter of your main program point having some way of konwing the JRE location and forcing to use it. That depends on how you pack/invoke your Java program. Normally, it would be feasible, perhaps with a simple .bat file - perhaps to be created at installation time.
The solution we used(A few years ago, but still I think the best way).
Find a program which can generate an exe file from a jar file(Google is your friend, I can't remember the name). Note that this .exe file will still need a jre. It is just a smart way to make an exe which contain your .jar file, and which start the java process automatic. (This also allows you to set a custom icon on your .exe file).
The java sdk which you use to develop/compile your java application, also contains a folder called jre, which contain a copy of the jre.
Include this folder with the installer, so the jre folder is located in the same folder as the .exe file. Then the .exe file will use the included jre, and the jre will not be installed on the computer, so you prevent any problems.
Well one extremely simple solution that works actually quite nice if you don't have to get an executable, is just using a simple Windows Batch file that starts the jar and having a shortcut to it so you get your preferred icon on it. For the average user there's no real difference - after all the default is to suppress known extensions on Windows (horrible default but well) - and for people who do know what an exe is, the solution should be quite apparent anyways.
That way you can also easily start the included java or better yet offer both versions and just change a variable in an ini file, which really is much nicer - nobody wants or needs X different JRE versions that are outdated and are nothing more than security problems. Still can't harm to offer a version that includes the JRE for people without a java install to make it as simple as possible for them.
One example for this behavior would be weka..
launch4j seems to offer to bundle an embedded JRE.