Question

What I mean by this, is opening a file with a Java code in it as a class, not as a file. So basically I want to:

-> Open a pure text file in a self written Java application (.txt/.log/.java)
-> Recognize class(es) in the file, for example:

public class TestExample { 
private String example; 

public String getExample() { 
return example; 
} 
} 

I will open this in a hand-written program. Instead of recognizing the text in the file as a String or as pure text, it will find the class TestExample in it. Then it will save this as a Class.

-> Use the Reflection API on the class
-> Get fields, methods, etc from file and display them

Would this be possible?

Answer 1

Yes, it is possible.

Have a look at this example.

http://weblogs.java.net/blog/malenkov/archive/2008/12/how_to_compile.html

Knowing how to find and read files (which is really simple), you can then use the code shown, especially

javax.tools.JavaCompiler
javax.tools.ToolProvider.getSystemJavaCompiler()

to compile the code and then call it using reflection.