tools.jar dependency

Question

Consider a Java program, launched from a main method, that needs something from tools.jar. In this case, some utility code for connecting to JMX services. Do we have any choice but to wrap it in a shell script that uses -cp to manage the class path? We'd much rather use a MANIFEST.MF classpath.

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 10 '11 at 22:21

1

from http://java.sun.com/developer/Books/javaprogramming/JAR/basics/manifest.html

the URLs in the Class-Path header are given relative to the URL of the JAR file of the applet or application.

I do not believe you have a choice about using a shell wrapper to get the tools.jar on your classpath. unless you write some custom classloader internally to allow you to find external jars.

answered Mar 10 '11 at 22:21

Helter Scelter

715
4
12

1

The idea is that I'd abandon the use of a Class-Path manifest and just build up a long -cp argument including $JAVA_HOME/lib/tools.jar. – bmargulies Mar 10 '11 at 22:37
I thought I was confirming your idea and suspicion. building a long -cp argument seems to be the only nice way to do what you want. you could also possibly create a java -jar launcher which would spawn another "java -cp some.package.Main" using a system exec. That would allow you to skip the script, at the expense of spawning or forking a new process. – Helter Scelter Mar 10 '11 at 23:32

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Mar 10 '11 at 22:22

If incorporating classes from the dependency jar is an option, I'd go with creation of a "Runnable JAR file". Basically you extract the classes from it and put them with your own classes in the JAR. That eliminates the need for a wrapping script.

To do that in Eclipse, select your project, File -> Export -> Java -> Runnable JAR file; that option will require that you have executed the main class at least once to know what profile to run when you actually run produced JAR.

tools.jar dependency

2 Answers2