19/6/2014

Using Java Classes in your .NET Application - CodeProject

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Using Java Classes in your .NET Application

By Chayan, 24 Mar 2006
4.85 (17 votes)

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Download source files - 2.87 MB

Introduction
Suppose you have been asked to migrate an existing multi-tier application to .NET where the
business layer is written in Java. Normally you would have no option but to recode and port the
entire application to any .NET language (e.g. C#). However this is where IKVM.NET comes to the
rescue.

About Article
IKVM.NET is an open source
implementation of Java for
Mono /Microsoft .NET
Framework and makes it
possible both to develop
.NET applications in Java,
and to use existing Java
APIs and libraries in
applications written in any
.NET language.
Type

Article

Licence

CPOL

First Posted

24 Mar 2006

Views

87,712

Downloads

2,072

Bookmarked

53 times

C# Windows Java
SE .NET
Visual-Studio Dev , +

IKVM.NET is an open source implementation of Java for Mono /Microsoft .NET Framework and
makes it possible both to develop .NET applications in Java, and to use existing Java API's and
libraries in applications written in any .NET language. It is written in C# and the executables,
documentation and source code can be downloaded from here.
IKVM.NET consists of the following three main parts:
1. A Java Virtual Machine implemented in .NET
2. A .NET implementation of the Java class libraries
3. Tools that enable Java and .NET interoperability
However before we get any further into this topic, lets discuss about few of the main components
of the IKVM.NET package which we would be using later in this article.
IKVM.Runtime.dll: The VM runtime and all supporting code containing the byte code JIT
compiler/verifier, object model remapping infrastructure and the managed .NET reimplementations of the native methods in Classpath.
IKVM.GNU.Classpath.dll: Compiled version of GNU Classpath, the Free Software
Foundation's implementation of the Java class libraries, plus some additional IKVM.NET
specific code.
ikvm.exe: Starter executable, comparable to java.exe ("dynamic mode").
ikvmc.exe: Static compiler. Used to compile Java classes and jars into a .NET assembly
("static mode").
Now back to our problem of migrating the existing Java business classes so that they can be
accessed by the newly proposed .NET application. We would also like to use the various existing
Java API and libraries in our .NET application. Lets start by doing just that.

Setting Up IKVM.NET
Download the binary distribution from the sourceforge site and unzip the contents to C:\ikvm (or
X:\ikvm where X is your drive). You would find the ikvm executables and DLLs in the C:\ikvm\bin
http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/13549/Using-Java-Classes-in-your-NET-Application

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directory. Open a command or shell window, cd to C:\ikvm\bin, and type ikvm.

Jeff Prosise on .NET

If your system is operating correctly, you should see the following output:

Simple Source Line Counter in

Java for Java

usage: ikvm [-options] <class> [args...] (to execute a class) or ikvm -jar [-options] <jarfile> [args...]
(to execute a jar file)
For Linux based systems, the setup is similar as above. This is all you need to do for running the
demo application.

Introduction to Visual J# .NET

The Common Language
Runtime (CLR) and Java
Runtime Environment (JRE)
SharpHSQL - An SQL engine
written in C#
.NET and J2EE interoperability
for .Net Developers

Our Demo Java Business Class (JavaToNet.java)

Collapse | Copy Code

public class JavaToNet

{
public static void main(String[] args)
{
System.out.println("This is a demonstration Program which\n");
System.out.println("shows the conversion of Java class to\n");
System.out.println("a .NET dll\n");
}
public static double AddNumbers(double a,double b){
double c = 0;
c = a + b;
return c;
}
public static double SubNumbers(double a,double b){
double c = 0;
c = a - b;
return c;
}
public static double MulNumbers(double a,double b){
double c = 0;
c = a * b;
return c;
}
public static double DivNumbers(double a,double b){
double c = 0;
c = a / b;
return c;
}
}

Related Research

Enterprise Imaging on the Web:

A How To Guide for Developers

In-The-Wild Testing: How to

Ensure Your Apps Work in the
Real World

Our Java class is very simple. It has four functions for add, subtract, multiply and divide that take
two double values and return a result. Our objective is to access these functions through our C#
application. Compile the above Java file to get the JavaToNet.class. We will use this Java class file
to generate the .NET DLL to be referenced in our C# program.

Using IKVM.NET to Convert Java Class to

.NET DLL

Developer Tips for Scanning on

the Web

Copy the above Java class file (JavaToNet.class) to the C:\ikvm\bin directory. Now run the
following command:

This would create the JavaToNet.dll from the JavaToNet.class file. There are other command line
option for ikvmc.exe. For example: i
kvmc target:exe javaToNet.class would create
an EXE and not a DLL. You can get all the options by typing ikvmc in the command line.

Essential Keys to Mobile

Usability

Setting Up Your .NET Development

Environment
1. Start by creating a C# Windows application project.
2. Drag and drop controls into the form as shown:

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3. Add the following DLLs as references to the project. Both DLLs are present in the
C:\ikvm\bin folder.
JavaToNet.dll
IKVM.GNU.Classpath.dll
4. Add the following code to the button click event of the Calculate button:
Collapse | Copy Code

private void btnCal_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)

{
if (rdAdd.Checked == true)
{
txtResult.Text = Convert.ToString(JavaToNet.AddNumbers
(Convert.ToDouble(txtNum1.Text),Convert.ToDouble(txtNum2.Text)));
}else if (rdSub.Checked ==true)
{
txtResult.Text = Convert.ToString(JavaToNet.SubNumbers
(Convert.ToDouble(txtNum1.Text),Convert.ToDouble(txtNum2.Text)));
}
else if (rdMul.Checked == true)
{
txtResult.Text = Convert.ToString(JavaToNet.MulNumbers
(Convert.ToDouble(txtNum1.Text),Convert.ToDouble(txtNum2.Text)));
}
else
{
txtResult.Text = Convert.ToString(JavaToNet.DivNumbers
(Convert.ToDouble(txtNum1.Text),Convert.ToDouble(txtNum2.Text)));
}
}

5. Add the following u

sing directive on the top of the *.cs file:
Collapse | Copy Code

using TimeZone = java.util.TimeZone;

6. Add the following code to the button click event of the Time Zone button.
Collapse | Copy Code

private void btnTimeZone_Click(object sender, System.EventArgs e)

{
MessageBox.Show(TimeZone.getDefault().getDisplayName());
}

7. Compile and run the application. The C# application would now call the A
ddNumbers(),
SubNumbers(), MulNumbers() and DivNumbers() functions present in the
JavaToNet.dll and return the result.
8. Click on the Time Zone button. The application accesses the j
ava.util.TimeZone class
and displays the exact time zone of the place.

http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/13549/Using-Java-Classes-in-your-NET-Application

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Conclusion
Since these methods had originally been written in Java, IKVM.NET provides us an easy and viable
way to access those classes and methods from a .NET application. Similarly as shown above in the
Time Zone example, you can access most of the existing Java packages (e.g. java.io, java.util, etc.)
and use them in your application.
However there are certain drawbacks. IKVM.NET, while still being actively developed, has limited
support for AWT classes and hence porting Java GUI can be ruled out at present. Also some of
the default Java classes are still being ported so you might not get all the functionalities you
require. Also if your application depends on the exact Java class loading semantics, you might
have to modify it to suit your needs.

History
03-25-06 Initial publication

License
This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project
Open License (CPOL)

About the Author

Chayan
Web Developer
India
Chayan Ray has been working as a Technical Consultant in a CMM level 5 company in India. His
technical domain includes ASP.NET, C#, PHP, Perl, Cold Fusion, MySQL and MSSQL 2000.
Article Top
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Comments and Discussions

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Missing file

Shailenderrajput

Error Message ->IKVMC0002: Output File

is "JavaToNet.dll"

MrKyaw

Getting errors while converting Jar to dll

using IKVM - please help!

sonam502173

2-Jan-13 8:24

Getting Class not found errors while

converting jar to dll using IKVM - please
help!!!!

sonam502173

2-Jan-13 8:23

Getting Class not found errors while

converting jar to dll using IKVM

sonam502173

2-Jan-13 8:22

ikmv class java to .net c#

Member 4559750

How to use IKVM without creating dll

NarVish

25-May-12 8:29

Thank you...

rajendranmca2008

25-Oct-11 2:42

Thanks

sanya.fesak

22-Sep-11 0:12

IKVM Framework is Updated

majed.idrees

the architecture in IKVM ?

Nguyen_Chuong

21-Feb-11 9:54

Jar to Native Dll

dummy programmer24

1-Dec-10 20:13

Re: Jar to Native Dll

Re: Jar to Native Dll

16-Jun-12 8:37

16-Apr-11 21:20

2-Dec-10 3:08

dummy programmer24

2-Dec-10 9:11

DilushaM

using a jar file with dependent jars

IthilienX

Re: using a jar file with dependent jars

21-Jan-13 2:24

Chayan

My vote of 5

Re: using a jar file with dependent jars

3-Feb-14 3:36

9-Jul-10 14:04
26-Oct-08 19:14

Rini Jackson

14-Mar-12 10:20

Nitin Sawant

30-Nov-12 5:40

Has Dependent Jar files?

MHSrinivasan

Problem with IKVM

Askalo

Does it only work with static method

Yeast27

get a error that "unsupported class file

version:"

devesh.kumar

IKVM.NET violates Java and .NET

standards!

Vitaly Shelest

http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/13549/Using-Java-Classes-in-your-NET-Application

19-Jun-08 5:15
6-Jul-07 10:37
25-Sep-06 8:04
7-Jul-06 4:49

22-Jun-06 8:02

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Using Java Classes in your .NET Application - CodeProject

Help regarding IKVMC tool

Re: Help regarding IKVMC tool

Last Visit: 11-Jun-14 12:11

General

News

surjithpk

12-Apr-06 7:13

Chayan

12-Apr-06 10:12

Last Update: 19-Jun-14 5:52

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