Creating runnable .jar with dependant libraries?

[Bas]

Hi,

I'm trying to create a jar so the end user can simply start the
application like this:

java -jar somejar.jar

This is all fine except how can I embed libraries (in jars) in this jar
file and have them appear in the classpath? Or do I need to unjar those
libraries individually and jar them into the new archive?

My brain must be f*cked up after creating .war's and .ear's for too
long

Cheers,

Bas.

 

[Rogan Dawes]

Hi,

I'm trying to create a jar so the end user can simply start the
application like this:

java -jar somejar.jar

This is all fine except how can I embed libraries (in jars) in this jar
file and have them appear in the classpath? Or do I need to unjar those
libraries individually and jar them into the new archive?

My brain must be f*cked up after creating .war's and .ear's for too
long

Cheers,

Bas.

Couple of options

put your library jars in the classpath in the manifest, and place the
jars themselves in a directory relative to your application jar. NOT in
the jar itself!

Alternatively, look for One-Jar or UberJar which can do what you are
looking for.

A third possibility is to use something like Proguard which will package
up all of your required classes into a single monolithic jar (but it
breaks if the jars need to be signed, etc)

Rogan

 

[Roedy Green]

This is all fine except how can I embed libraries (in jars) in this jar
file and have them appear in the classpath?

Read up on the manifest. You can list aux jars in there with relative
urls.

See http://mindprod.com/jgloss/jar.html
http://mindprod.com/jgloss/jar.exe.html