Can you add multiple jars in a jar file and then launch that jar file

Question

I am working on a GUI application and would rather distribute just one jar as opposed to multiple ones.

Can you control this with the manifest.

Answer 1

Another option is to use a custom class loader such as this one:

http://one-jar.sourceforge.net/

Answer 2

Merge your jars to one jar. See this thread.

Answer 3

You need to be careful when doing this. If the jars you are merging have manifest files with critical information - these can get lost, only the last file will get merged.

E.g. If you merge JavaMail - the manifest file is important. If you lose it - bad things csn happen.

The safest thing to do is to look at each jar file and check the manifest file.

Answer 4

Have a look here. Use Netbeans 6.7.1 to combine multiple jars into 1 jar

Answer 5

Create a Shaded jar which combines multiple jars into a single jar. Maven supports this functionality out of the box.

https://maven.apache.org/plugins/maven-shade-plugin/