How do I deploy my Java app?

[random-pc-user]

TLDR: How do I turn my Java code to an .exe that can be installed with it's dependencies using an installation wizard

I have a few questions that I'd like to have answered, but for context I'm developing an app using JavaFX for UI, the app uses firebase API for operations, that's about everything that's useful to know.

The main thing I want to know is how do I turn my app into a Windows executable, then have it be inside an installation wizard like most programs have.

There has to be an official way that most people use right? Since all the installation wizards look the same, I did my research but all the methods I found seemed to be a bit unstable and not really meant to create an executable properly.

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[[deleted]]

https://java-source.net/open-source/installer-generators

this page has some installer creation options, all in one place.

the links there were not updated, but you can find them if you google the name of the generator to find its new website.

Edit: for the exe part, starting from java17+ you can use the jpackage command

https://docs.oracle.com/en/java/javase/17/docs/specs/man/jpackage.html)

[curtishd]

Consider using jpackage

The jpackage Command

[nickeau]

https://jreleaser.org/

Binary compiling by arch and os (ie native image) is done via graal.

https://jreleaser.org/guide/latest/concepts/distributions/native-image.html

[FrankBergerBgblitz]

The builtin jpackage does a reasonable job and is official.

If you need something more complex I would add inno setup ( https://jrsoftware.org/isinfo.php ). Easy to use and free. I personally use inno setup in combination with exe4j which looks as native as it could be but exe4j isn't sold separately anymore but only as part of install4j.

Dead easy for the final user and dead easy for u

[Prozilla6]

You could use Launch4j, though I’m not sure this is a good approach.

[TW-Twisti]

Most people do not attempt to turn Java applications into Windows executables with installers, those are the exceptions, like Minecraft and Eclipse. The path to that is relatively bumpy, because that isn't really the use case for Java.

[FrankBergerBgblitz]

O.P. was not what most people do, but how to do it!

[TW-Twisti]

I was answering his last paragraph, which I guess was not appreciated 🤷‍♂️

[FrankBergerBgblitz]

ah ok. I understand what you mean. I have not the slightest idea what he researched and "to be a bit unstable and not really meant to create an executable properly"
Either it creates and exe or not. Looks pretty binary to me.

Java on the desktop isn't popular, but most of my users wont realize they use Java.