Packaging Java apps for the Windows/Linux desktop

Question

I am writing an application in Java for the desktop using the Eclipse SWT library for GUI rendering. I think SWT helps Java get over the biggest hurdle for acceptance on th

Answer 1

You may want to try our tool, BitRock InstallBuilder. Although it is a native application, a lot of our customers use it to package desktop Java applications. If you bundle the JRE and create launcher, etc. the user does not even need to know they are installing a Java application. It is cross platform, so you can generate installers for both Windows and Mac (and Linux, Solaris, etc.) Like install4j tool mentioned in another post, it is a commercial tool, but we have free licenses for open source projects and special discounts for microISVs / small business, etc. just drop us an email. Also wanted to emphasize that this is an installer tool, so it will not address your needs if you are looking only for a single file executable.

Answer 2

Maybe you should take a look at IzPack. I created a very nice installer some years ago and I'd bet that they are still improving it. It allows the installation of docs, binaries and a clickable link to start the application IIRC.

Answer 3

In my company we use Launch4J to create the exe file, and NSIS to create the installer, with SWT applications.

We have used it for years in several commercial applications and the pair works fine.

Answer 4

Consider converting your application to Eclipse RCP. It is written in SWT, and the Eclipse IDE contains packaging tools that generate executables for all major platforms. For windows, it can generate a zip or a folder containing your code. For a common installation experience, I'd using NSIS. There is actually a packages generator project at eclipse to create common installers for all platforms eclipse supports.

Answer 5

Have you thought about Java Web Start? Here is a tutorial specifically for deploying an SWT application with Java Web Start.

Answer 6

JSMooth has worked very well for us in a production environment, where I first generated a single jar using one-jar (fat jar plugin to eclipse) and then wrapped it with JSmooth.

(Please note that I wanted a no-install distribution of a single file, which could promt for installing the JRE if needed).

It has worked so well that I thought nobody was using it :)