jbin

Binary Executables in Pure Java.

jbin allows you to create binary executables in Java, similar to using a shebang in a Python, PHP, or Bash script.

Think of jbin as the replacement for a shebang in a Java program. Instead of running java -jar HelloWorld.jar or java HelloWorld, you can execute the generated binary with ./HelloWorld or simply HelloWorld if you place it in your $PATH.

jbin adds no additional baggage or code to your project and ensures that it’s as lightweight as it was before using jbin.

This program was packaged into an executable binary using jbin!

Getting Started

After the super painless drag-and-drop installation, suppose you want to create a life-changing program that will have a stark effect on the world called HelloWorld.

You sit down, dust off your Java compiler, and proceed to spend the next four years of your life working twenty hours a day. Then comes the day you are finally able to show off your masterpiece.

public
 
class
 
HelloWorld
{
	
public
 
static
 
String
 
sayHello
()
	{
		
return
 
"Hello, world!"
;
	}

	
public
 
static
 
void
 
main
(
String
[] 
args
) {
		
System
.
out
.
println
(
HelloWorld
.
sayHello
());
	}
}

You’re ecstatic, all those years of hard work have finally paid off!

You decide to package your killer new program as a JAR; after all, it’s the standard. Whenever someone wants to use your insanely-useful program, they’ll have to:

$ java -jar HelloWorld.jar

Hmm, you think. That’s a bit overkill. Shouldn’t it be easier for my users to use my amazing program than that? Why is the standard so awkward?

This is where jbin steps into the equation. You decide to run:

$ jbin HelloWorld.jar HelloWorld

You’re presented with a new file, an executable binary by the name HelloWorld. You run:

$ ./HelloWorld

You’re amazed; everything works as expected!

You wonder what happens if you copy this executable binary to your $PATH.

$ cp HelloWorld /usr/local/bin

Trembling with excitement, you slowly type the command that may change your life forever:

$ HelloWorld

Eureka! Writing executable binaries in the language you’re comfortable with is now a reality. You can finally sleep at night.

You can now distribute a cleaner, leaner, and meaner binary executable for your users.

Usage

Generating an executable binary from an existing JAR

$ jbin HelloWorld.jar HelloWorld

Where HelloWorld.jar is the existing JAR. HelloWorld is the name of the executable binary that will be generated.

Generating an executable binary from a bunch of Java source files (.java)

$ jbin Sudoku.java Board.java Cell.java Sudoku

Where Sudoku.java, Board.java, and Cell.java are the Java source files. Sudoku is the name of the executable binary that will be generated.

A JAR will be created with the first Java source file specified being defined as the Main-Class in the META-INF/MANIFEST.MF. This is the file that will be “run” when the executable binary is executed.

Installation

Linux and Max OS X

jbin can be installed on Unix-based machines (Linux or Mac OS X) by downloading the binary executable and copying it to your $PATH.

$ wget https://github.com/qw3rtman/jbin/releases/download/v0.1.0/jbin
$ mv jbin /usr/local/bin

Windows

There is currently limited support for jbin on Windows. This is due to the absence of a shebang or shebang-esque function in MS-DOS. As a result, jbin works just fine in Cygwin. Simply follow the above instructions for Linux and Mac OS X in Cygwin.

jbin (obviously) depends on Java. Other than that, jbin has no dependencies!

Easy as cake!

Updating

jbin will check for updates on every command and will inform you in the event that jbin is out-of-date.

Additionally, you can run jbin -v or jbin --version to check this manually.

To update, simply run jbin self-update.

Contributing

Contributions are always welcome.

Find something interesting in the TODO below, fork our code, create a new branch, and send us a pull request.

There are only two rules: avoid code smells and abide by the syntax-formatting of the existing code.
.com/qw3rtman>

TODO

• everything

FAQ

How does this all work?

Core Team

Nimit Kalra