Can Java Applications Be Executed in Separate Processes with Platform Independence?

Executing Java Applications in Separate Processes with Platform Independence

In the realm of Java development, it becomes necessary to execute applications in separate processes while maintaining platform independence. This raises the question: Can a Java application be loaded in a separate process by specifying its fully qualified name, transcending platform limitations?

The Current Limitation

Traditionally, Java applications are executed using the Runtime.getRuntime().exec(COMMAND) method, which invokes platform-specific commands. This approach presents a challenge for cross-platform compatibility.

An Ideal Solution

An ideal scenario would involve a simplified method that accepts the application class name and executes it in a separate process, as exemplified by the following construct:

EXECUTE.application(CLASS_TO_BE_EXECUTED);

A Platform-Independent Approach

Drawing inspiration from previous responses, we can utilize Java's system properties to obtain vital information regarding the Java command path and classpath in a platform-independent manner. The following code snippet demonstrates this approach:

public final class JavaProcess {

    private JavaProcess() {}        

    public static int exec(Class klass, List<String> args) throws IOException,
                                               InterruptedException {
        String javaHome = System.getProperty("java.home");
        String javaBin = javaHome +
                File.separator + "bin" +
                File.separator + "java";
        String classpath = System.getProperty("java.class.path");
        String className = klass.getName();

        List<String> command = new LinkedList<>();
        command.add(javaBin);
        command.add("-cp");
        command.add(classpath);
        command.add(className);
        if (args != null) {
            command.addAll(args);
        }

        ProcessBuilder builder = new ProcessBuilder(command);

        Process process = builder.inheritIO().start();
        process.waitFor();
        return process.exitValue();
    }

}

To invoke this method, you would use a simple command:

int status = JavaProcess.exec(MyClass.class, args);

By passing the actual class instead of its string representation, we leverage the fact that the class must already be present in the classpath for this approach to be successful.

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