Thread: change java code project to exe file

You can put all the class files and other resources the program needs in a single jar file.
I use the jar command (part of the JDK) to build and update jar files.

Even though it doesn't involve actually converting a jar to an executable format, programs such as AdvanceInstaller do offer nifty tools for packing your jars and resources and installing them to a default directory, be it in AppData or with other program files and then providing a shortcut to your jar in the start menu.

I use the jar command from a batch file. See the doc for the syntax of the command.
Here is one of the batch files:

@Rem Create the SlideShowApp.jar file for standalone usage:
%DEV_DRIVE%
cd %DEV_HOME%\JavaDevelopment\SlideShow\
jar -cmf SlideShow.mnf %JAVA_RUN%\SlideShowApp.jar ImgIdxEditor.html
@REM
@REM Now go get the tools we need
@REM
cd %DEV_HOME%\JavaDevelopment\
jar -uf %JAVA_RUN%\SlideShowApp.jar SlideShow\*.class NormsTools\GetInput*.class NormsTools\GetIntInput*.class NormsTools\ShowMsgBox*.class NormsTools\MessageArea*.class NormsTools\ChoiceOfYesOrNo*.class NormsTools\ErrDialog*.class NormsTools\MakeEnterDoAction*.class NormsTools\Sorter*.class NormsTools\ArrayUtil*.class NormsTools\FindOurHome.class NormsTools\ShowListBox*.class NormsTools\SaveStdOutput*.class NormsTools\DroppedFileHandlerN*.class NormsTools\NormsDropTarget*.class NormsTools\OrderingList*.class NormsTools\DroppedFileHandler*.class NormsTools\AskMultipleChoices*.class NormsTools\GetPastes*.class
@REM Done
@Echo
@Echo Created: %JAVA_RUN%\SlideShowApp.jar
@Echo
@Echo Remember to copy jar file to C:\My_Photos when tested!
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The names in % are environment varables.

Follow Norm instructions and then use Jar2Exe tool, freely avaialbe on internet to convert your jar to exe.

Find the doc for the jar command. It is part of the Java SDK.
Read the doc and look at the sample batch file I posted that uses the jar command.
%DEV_DRIVE% is one of several environment variables I use to define paths to folders on my PC.

Do you want to run Java without a JVM? As far as I know, in order for a Java program to run it needs a JVM, even if it's in exe form. Take the Eclipse IDE as an example. It has an .exe version in Windows and a local-binary executable for Linux (there's no application extension in Linux). However, this is just a "dummy program" which runs Java similar to how a batch file or command script would by starting the JVM and running a jar file. Eclipse will not function without an installed JVM.

The only way to technically run Java without a JVM is on specialized hardware which would treat Java Bytecode as assembly code. I think such hardware exists on some mobile devices, but I'm not positive as many times it's just a JVM ported over to another hardware architecture (for example Android).

If you want a native application, best to start out with a natively implemented language like C or C++. For Java applications you're likely better off sticking with JAR files, web-start apps, and applets.