Make an application out of a simple java server.

[SpreadTooThin]

I've written a server that has no user interface (at the moment).
I'd like to make a platform independent application out of it.
What is the distribution method of java applications?
like.. is it a jar file and all systems just know what to do with the
jar file and has an icon that a user can click on and the application
launches?
How would i set the application icon.. is there a bundle format for
java applications?

 

[Mark Space]

I've written a server that has no user interface (at the moment).

If it's a "server" then normally someone who knows servers installs it
and decides how to best do that on their system.

I'd like to make a platform independent application out of it.
What is the distribution method of java applications?
like.. is it a jar file and all systems just know what to do with the
jar file and has an icon that a user can click on and the application
launches?

Jar files are one possibility. I don't think "all users" know what to
do with a jar however. You could look at Java Web Start, I use an app
made by someone else which uses JWS and as a user I find it very
convenient. There's also various installers available.

<http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/deployment/deployment-guide/contents.html>
<http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/technotes/guides/javaws/developersguide/contents.html>

How would i set the application icon.. is there a bundle format for
java applications?

Just jar files, but I think both JWS and the installers above can set an
icon for you. In fact I'm sure JWS can.

 

[Roedy Green]

I've written a server that has no user interface (at the moment).
I'd like to make a platform independent application out of it.
What is the distribution method of java applications?
like.. is it a jar file and all systems just know what to do with the
jar file and has an icon that a user can click on and the application
launches?
How would i set the application icon.. is there a bundle format for
java applications?

See http://mindprod.com/jgloss/installer.html

For techies, a ZIP will suffice.
--
Roedy Green Canadian Mind Products
http://mindprod.com

Never discourage anyone... who continually makes progress, no matter how slow.
~ Plato 428 BC died: 348 BC at age: 80

 

[Arne Vajhøj]

I've written a server that has no user interface (at the moment).
I'd like to make a platform independent application out of it.

Server apps are not installed platform independently - windows
services, *nix daemons, VMS detached processes are all different.

What is the distribution method of java applications?
like.. is it a jar file and all systems just know what to do with the
jar file and has an icon that a user can click on and the application
launches?

For a desktop app then an executable jar is fine.

How would i set the application icon.. is there a bundle format for
java applications?

No.

The icon is the GUI's representation for a jar file - not
something the jar file itself can control.

On some/most platform you can control it by creating a
native executable (I have code for Windows somewhere)
wrapper.

Arne