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<img style="width: 249px; height: 58px;" src="launch4j.gif" alt="launch4j"> <span class="version">3.0.1</span>
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<h2>Cross-platform Java executable wrapper</h2>
<p>
Launch4j is a cross-platform tool for wrapping
Java applications distributed as jars in lightweight Windows
native executables. The executable can be
configured to search for a certain JRE version or
use a bundled one, and it's possible to set
runtime options, like the initial/max heap size.
The wrapper also provides better user experience
through an application icon, a native pre-JRE
splash screen, a custom process name, and a Java
download page in case the appropriate JRE cannot
be found.
</p>
<img style="width: 352px; height: 498px; margin-left: 100px;" src="launch4j-use.gif" alt="How to use Launch4">
<h2>Features</h2>
<ul>
<li>Launch4j wraps jars in Windows native executables and allows to run them
like a regular Windows program. It's possible to wrap applications
on Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Solaris!
</li>
<li>Also creates <strong>launchers</strong> for jars and class files without wrapping.</li>
<li>
Supports executable jars and <strong>dynamic classpath</strong> resolution using
environment variables and wildcards.
</li>
<li><strong>Doesn't extract the jar</strong> from the executable.</li>
<li>Custom application icon with multiple resolutions and color depths.</li>
<li><strong>Native pre-JRE splash screen</strong> in BMP format shown until
the Java application starts.
</li>
<li><strong>Process name</strong> as the executable filename to easily
identify your application, initial <strong>priority</strong> and
<strong>single aplication instance</strong> features.
</li>
<li>Works with a bundled JRE or searches for newest Sun or IBM JRE / JDK in given
version range.</li>
<li>Opens <strong>Java download page</strong> if an appropriate Java version cannot be
found or a <strong>support website</strong> in case of an error.
</li>
<li>Supports <strong>GUI and console apps</strong>.</li>
<li>Supports <strong>Vista manifests</strong> and <strong>XP visual style manifests</strong>.</li>
<li>Passes command line arguments, also supports constant arguments.</li>
<li>Allows to set the initial/max heap size also <strong>dynamically</strong> in percent of free memory.</li>
<li>JVM options: set system properties, tweak the garbage collection...</li>
<li>Runtime JVM options from an .l4j.ini file.</li>
<li>Runtime command line switches to change the compiled options.</li>
<li>Access to environment variables, the <strong>registry</strong> and executable file path through system properties.</li>
<li><strong>Set environment variables.</strong></li>
<li>Option to change current directory to the executable location.</li>
<li>The JRE's bin directory is appended to the Path environment variable.</li>
<li>Custom <strong>version information</strong> shown by Windows Explorer.</li>
<li><strong>GUI</strong> and command line interface.</li>
<li>Build integration through an <strong>Ant task</strong> and a <strong><a href="http://9stmaryrd.com/tools/launch4j-maven-plugin/">Maven Plugin</a></strong>.</li>
<li><big><strong>Lightweight: 26 KB!</strong></big></li>
<li><strong>It's free</strong> and may be used for commercial purposes.</li>
<li>Includes a sample application and <strong>Ant script</strong>
that automates the build process from Java sources to native executable.
</li>
<li>The wrapped program works on all Windows platforms (98/Me/NT/2K/XP/Vista),
Launch4j works on NT/2K/XP/Vista, Linux, Mac OS X (build on 10.4) and Sparc Solaris 8-10.
</li>
</ul>
<h2>License</h2>
<p>
This program is free software licensed under the
<a href="http://www.opensource.org/licenses/bsd-license.html">BSD license</a>, the <em>head</em> subproject
(the code which is attached to the wrapped jars) is licensed under the
<a href="http://www.opensource.org/licenses/mit-license.html">MIT license</a>.
Launch4j may be used for wrapping closed source, commercial applications.
</p>
<h2>Info</h2>
<p>
Running Launch4j on other Java enabled platforms is a matter of getting a binary version
of <a href="http://www.mingw.org/">MinGW</a> binutils 2.15.90 (<em>windres</em> and <em>ld</em> only)
for your system or compiling them. If you'll provide these, I'll be able to create a binary package
available for download.
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