Java/FAQ

Java FAQ

Questions about the Java environment running on Fedora.

General

What is the Java environment in Fedora?

OpenJDK 7 is the default Java environment since Fedora 17. It is Oracle(formerly Sun) Java under a free and open source license, and there are runtime and development packages.

There is also an alternative Java environment in Fedora that has three components: the GNU Java runtime ("libgcj"), the Eclipse Java compiler ("ecj"), and a set of wrappers and links ("java-gcj-compat") that present the runtime and compiler to the user in the same way as other Java environments are presented.

Doesn't libgcj need compiled native code? I just want to run jarfiles!

libgcj does have the ability to run jarfiles. The java command on your Fedora box executes Java bytecode similarly to any other Java runtime.

You are, however, strongly encouraged to use the OpenJDK runtime as its far more robust and feature complete. Eventually at some point OpenJDK will replace GNU Java completely.

I didn't get Java at install time, but I want to install it now. How do I do that?

On Fedora 17+ the OpenJDK 7 runtime and development packages are installed by default during any large-media install, such as from the Fedora DVD.

If installing from a live image, such as a live CD or USB flash drive, add the OpenJDK 7 runtime after the install:

• To install with the graphical package manager, follow System > Administration > Add/Remove Software and use search to find the package(s) to install.

• To install from the command line:

su -c "yum install java-1.7.0-openjdk"

This package contains just the Java Runtime Environment. To develop Java programs, install the java-1.7.0-openjdk-devel package. Install all the OpenJDK 7 packages, including the API documentation, by using the wildcard java-1.7.0-openjdk*.

To install the gcj-related packages:

• With the graphical package manager, go to Applications > Add/Remove Software and use search to find the package(s) to install.
• To install from the command line:

su -c "yum install java-1.5.0-gcj-compat"

This package contains just the Java Runtime Environment. To develop Java programs, install the java-1.5.0-gcj-compat-devel package. Install all the GCJ packages, including the API documentation, by using the wildcard java-1.5.0-gcj-compat*.

Refer to the Software Management Guide for more information.

Fedora's Java environment does not provide the functionality I require. Can I install another?

The JPackage Project has packages for a variety of Java environments, both free and proprietary. These packages are designed so that more than one may be installed simultaneously. The Java environment in Fedora is fully compatible with this system.

Installing a JPackage Java environment is described in detail in JpackageJava .

Java environments other than from JPackage are likely to interfere with Fedora's Java environment and their use is not recommended.

Usage

Where is everything?

Java packages in Fedora are in the main based on and compatible with those of the JPackage Project . Their packaging infrastructure and policy documentation is included in full in the jpackage-utils package. The main things you probably want to know, however, are that the commands (java, javac, jar, etc) are on the system path, the main jar repository is /usr/share/java and the extensions jar repository is /usr/share/java-ext

Are parts of the Java platform known not to exist or work properly in Fedora?

No, everything is there and works just fine, if you're using the recommended OpenJDK 7, that is. GNU Java misses a lot of stuff as noted below in "Tool Support".

Java Language

OpenJDK is mostly a rebranded version of Oracle's JDK, so it naturally implements everything there is to implement. There are a couple of differences though, concerning parts of Java's code to which Oracle does not own the copyright. Most notably the Swing implementation is using a different rendering engine and this is know to cause some issues.

As far as GNU Classpath is concerned - except for these few items, most of the language has been implemented.

• Assertions are mostly implemented, but no-one has yet provided a way to activate them!

• None of the Java language features that are new in Java 1.5 are implemented yet

Tool Support

• OpenJDK 7 features every known Java tool from Oracle's reference Java implemenation

• The following JDK 1.5 tools are missing from libgcj: apt, ControlPanel, extcheck, HtmlConverter, idlj, javap, java-rmi.cgi, javaws, jconsole, jdb, jinfo, jmap, jps, jsadebugd, jstack, jstat, jstatd, kinit, klist, ktab, native2ascii, orbd, pack200, policytool, rmid, serialver, servertool, tnameserv and unpack200

What about running Java applets in the browser?

Fedora 14 and earlier

You'll need the java-1.6.0-openjdk-plugin. If you've installed OpenJDK as a feature from a large-media distribution such as the Fedora DVD you're all set. Otherwise you'll have to install it manually:

su -c "yum install java-1.6.0-openjdk-plugin"

This plugin is known to work in most major browsers(Firefox, Chromium, etc).

Fedora 15 and later

su -c "yum install icedtea-web"

How can I assist the development of OpenJDK

Hack on the JDK itself, right here in the growing OpenJDK Community: Browse the code on the web, get a source bundle or clone a Mercurial repository to make a local copy, learn how to build and hack on the code with the NetBeans IDE, and contribute a patch to fix a bug, enhance an existing component, or define a new feature.

A program uses classes which are not supported by GCJ. How can I port it so it will work?

If the full names of the classes in question start with sun. or com.sun., please see http://developer.classpath.org/mediation/ClasspathMigration

Alternatively, as noted several times already - favor the OpenJDK runtime. Otherwise, see the next question.

How can I assist with the development of GCJ?

If you are not a programmer, or you are stopped by legal reasons from contributing patches to GCJ, see the next question.

Most GCJ development work (class libraries, tools) is done in GNU Classpath . GCJ-specific work (compiler, CNI) is done in GCC . All upstream bug reports are filed in GCC Bugzilla .

How can I assist with the development of GCJ without programming?

The most helpful thing you can do is try your applets and applications on Fedora's free runtime and file good bug reports when they don't work. When filing bugs against Fedora's runtime, file them against the java-1.4.2-gcj-compat component in Red Hat Bugzilla and the Fedora GCJ/libgcj maintainers will file and fix them upstream.

How do I get stack traces from Java programs when filing a bug report?

See JavaStackTraces

Why are my executable JAR files opened instead of being executed?

The default action for .jar files is to treat them as ordinary .zip files. Two ways to fix this:

• Register a binfmt for .jar (see /usr/share/doc/kernel-doc-*/Documentation/java.txt for details)

• Change the default action in nautilus, or whatever file manager you use. In nautilus, I think you can do this by: right-click on the .jar file, choose Properties, choose Open With, click Add, click Use a custom command, and type in xterm -e java -jar

Can I run Oracle Java on Fedora?

You sure can, however, we recommend you to try OpenJDK first and switch to Oracle Java only if you experience problems with the OpenJDK.

Oracle Java can be downloaded from here as an RPM package. You can use afterwards the alternatives program to toggle between different Java runtime environments, compilers, etc.

See Also

• Java