How to create an executable JAR file with a manifest

Introduction

Java Archives (JARs) are a popular way to package and distribute Java applications. In this tutorial, you will learn how to create an executable JAR file with a custom manifest, which allows you to specify the main class and other metadata for your Java application.

Skills Graph

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Understanding Java Archives (JARs)

Java Archives (JARs) are a file format used to package Java applications and libraries. JARs are essentially ZIP files that contain compiled Java classes, resources, and metadata. The primary purpose of a JAR file is to distribute and deploy Java applications and libraries.

What is a JAR File?

A JAR (Java Archive) file is a file format that is used to bundle Java classes, resources, and metadata into a single file. JAR files are based on the ZIP file format, which means that they can contain compressed files and directories. This makes it easier to distribute and deploy Java applications and libraries, as all the necessary files are contained within a single file.

Why Use JAR Files?

There are several benefits to using JAR files:

Packaging and Distribution: JAR files make it easier to package and distribute Java applications and libraries. All the necessary files are contained within a single file, making it simpler to distribute and install.
Compression: JAR files can compress the contents of the file, reducing the overall file size and making it faster to download and install.
Classpath Management: JAR files can be added to the classpath of a Java application, making it easier to manage the dependencies and resources required by the application.
Executable JARs: JAR files can be made executable, allowing users to run the application directly from the JAR file without having to install a separate Java runtime environment.

JAR File Structure

A JAR file contains the following components:

Compiled Java Classes: The compiled Java classes that make up the application or library.
Resources: Any resources required by the application or library, such as images, configuration files, or data files.
Manifest File: A special file that contains metadata about the JAR file, such as the main class, classpath, and other information.

The structure of a JAR file can be visualized using a mermaid diagram:

graph TD A[JAR File] --> B[Compiled Java Classes] A --> C[Resources] A --> D[Manifest File]

By understanding the structure and purpose of JAR files, you can effectively create and use them in your Java development projects.

Creating an Executable JAR File

To create an executable JAR file, you need to specify a main class that will be executed when the JAR file is run. This is done by adding a special entry to the JAR file's manifest file.

Manifest File

The manifest file is a special file within the JAR file that contains metadata about the contents of the JAR. It is located at the path META-INF/MANIFEST.MF within the JAR file.

The manifest file can contain various entries, but the most important one for creating an executable JAR is the Main-Class entry. This entry specifies the fully qualified name of the main class that should be executed when the JAR file is run.

Creating an Executable JAR

To create an executable JAR file, follow these steps:

Compile your Java code and ensure that all the necessary classes and resources are in the correct directories.
Create a manifest file with the Main-Class entry. For example:
```
Manifest-Version: 1.0
Main-Class: com.example.MyMainClass
```
Package the compiled classes, resources, and the manifest file into a JAR file using the jar command:
```
jar cvfm my-app.jar manifest.mf -C bin/ .
```
This command creates a JAR file named my-app.jar with the contents of the bin/ directory and the manifest.mf file as the manifest.
You can now run the executable JAR file using the java command:
```
java -jar my-app.jar
```

The process of creating an executable JAR file can be visualized using a mermaid diagram:

graph TD A[Compile Java Code] --> B[Create Manifest File] B --> C[Package into JAR File] C --> D[Run Executable JAR]

By following these steps, you can create an executable JAR file that can be easily distributed and run on any system with a Java runtime environment installed.

Customizing the JAR Manifest

The JAR manifest file provides a way to store metadata about the contents of the JAR file. This metadata can be used to customize the behavior of the JAR file and the way it is executed. In this section, we'll explore some of the common manifest entries that you can use to customize your JAR files.

Common Manifest Entries

Here are some of the most commonly used manifest entries:

Entry	Description
`Main-Class`	Specifies the fully qualified name of the main class that should be executed when the JAR file is run.
`Class-Path`	Specifies a list of JAR files or other resources that should be added to the classpath when the JAR file is executed.
`Created-By`	Specifies the name and version of the tool used to create the JAR file.
`Sealed`	Specifies whether the JAR file is sealed, which means that its contents cannot be modified.
`Implementation-Title`, `Implementation-Version`, `Implementation-Vendor`	Provide information about the implementation of the JAR file.
`Specification-Title`, `Specification-Version`, `Specification-Vendor`	Provide information about the specification that the JAR file implements.

Customizing the Manifest

To customize the manifest file, you can create a text file with the desired entries and then use the jar command to package the JAR file with the custom manifest.

For example, to create a JAR file with a custom manifest, you can use the following command:

jar cvfm my-app.jar manifest.mf -C bin/ .

Here, manifest.mf is the name of the file containing the custom manifest entries.

You can also use the jar command to update an existing JAR file with a new manifest:

jar ufm existing-app.jar new-manifest.mf

This command updates the manifest of the existing-app.jar file with the entries in the new-manifest.mf file.

By customizing the JAR manifest, you can provide additional information about your Java application and control how it is executed.

Summary

By the end of this tutorial, you will have a solid understanding of Java Archives (JARs) and how to create an executable JAR file with a custom manifest. This knowledge will help you package and distribute your Java applications more effectively.