How to create a runnable jar file from source code programmatically?
-
01-06-2021 - |
Question
I need to create runnable .jar
file programmatically from a string. My decision is to create a .class
file from string and add it to the .jar
using JarOutputStream.
- What API must I use to create the
.class
file? - Are there any other solutions to create a
.jar
from the source code?
Solution
In order to do that, you can use the Java Compiler API.
There is this excellent tutorial that can walk you through.
OTHER TIPS
To compile code, you need a compiler. You can either use the SunOracle compiler or the Eclipse compiler. Calling the compiler API (both have documented APIs) will produce a .class file in a temporary location. You can then make a jar.
For an example of this sort of thing, start with, for example, the Maven Compiler Plugin, which is a Java module which uses the compiler API. You'll have to find your way into the Plexus compiler module.