Question

I write a very simple java program with two classes: Business and Main.

I want to create a jar such that if I email it to someone they can:

• run the program (i.e. run the jar)
• open the jar to view the source code.
• the code can run on mac or windows

I have been using IDEs for so long I have forgotten how to do this.

I am using netbeans 7.x

EDIT:

I found the following way on Netbeans:

properties > packaging > exclude from jar file :: delete **/*.java

But when I try to execute the jar using

java -jar mybusiness.jar

it says

no main manifest attribute, in mybusiness.jar

But note that my jar has a main class. Am I missing a manifest file?

Answer 1

You can export a JAR file that includes the source code using Netbeans:

1. Right click on the project and select properties
2. Build -> Packaging
3. Remove Java files from the excluded files. And select build jar after compiling

It will create the jar file that includes the source code if it successfully compiles.