Use jpackage to generate native apps

[fvarrui]

Since I haven't used the jpackage tool much, I'd like to know if using jpackage to generate native Java apps (instead of different plugins and libraries) would be a good idea.

[SaptarshiSarkar12]

@fvarrui Yes, jpackage is far better than jlink as it generates native installers which manages the JRE and dependencies part, so there is no overhead on the end user.
References :

1. https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/20/docs/specs/man/jpackage.html
2. https://www.devdungeon.com/content/use-jpackage-create-native-java-app-installers
3. https://www.baeldung.com/java14-jpackage
4. https://www.dariawan.com/tutorials/java/java-14-packaging-tool-jep-343/

[fvarrui]

No idea

I don't have any experience about GraalVM

Neither do I

[SaptarshiSarkar12]

@fvarrui I have tried GraalVM after I started learning it. It is just awesome. It builds pure native executables for all OS, with almost zero dependency requirements. It can also build installers (For JavaFX app) for all OS (deb and rpm for Linux is under development).
You can check my pom file here and the GitHub Actions to build the executables here. You can download the artifacts from there and test it in your machine.

Screenshots of Installer on macOS

[SaptarshiSarkar12]

@fvarrui I am sorry to say that I have moved to GraalVM from JavaPackager because of its native image generation capabilities. So, I would request you to remove the Drifty project from the list of projects which use JavaPackager.

[fvarrui]

Hi @SaptarshiSarkar12! Don't worry. Thanks so much for let me know and happy to know that you found a solution that meets your needs. There are more devs asking for JavaPackager supports GraalVM. I haven't tried yet, but I'll probably have to do it. Maybe GraalVM turns JP into a deprecated project

[SaptarshiSarkar12]

Thank you for understanding! Yes, GraalVM is indeed going to turn JP into a deprecated project. It will help other people using
JavaPackager if you add support for GraalVM.
@fvarrui I would also like to inform you that for building native executables for any JavaFX app, there is a maven plugin named GluonFX Maven Plugin which can generate JavaFX native executables using GraalVM under the hood.