Oracle JDeveloper is an integrated development environment (IDE) for Java, Java EE, and the Application Development Framework (ADF). JDeveloper supports Java standards-based Web Services, including JAX-WS and JAX-RPC. JDeveloper is also a client for most commonly used relational databases, which include Oracle Database, MySQL database, IBM DB2 database, and SQL Server. In two articles, we shall discuss creating a Java application in JDeveloper. This article has the following sections:
- Setting the Environment
- Creating a Java Project
- Setting Project Properties
- Creating a Java Interface
- Conclusion
Setting the Environment
Download and install Oracle JDeveloper 12.2.1.
Creating a Java Project
To create and run a Java application, we first need to create a Java project in JDeveloper. A Java project constitutes of a directory structure to create and run Java applications. The JDK and classpath used are pre-configured; so are the project properties and preferences, which may be customized. To create a new Java project, select File>New>Application, as shown in Figure 1. Alternatively, File>New>From Gallery may also be selected.
Figure 1: File>New>Application
In the New Gallery wizard, select General>Applications in Categories, as shown in Figure 2. Select Java Desktop Application in Items and click OK.
Figure 2: Selecting Java Desktop Application in New Gallery
The Create Java Desktop Application wizard gets started, as shown in Figure 3. The first window is Name your application. Specify an Application Name (HelloWorld) and the Directory gets configured. Click Next.
Figure 3: Create Java Desktop Application>Name your Application
Next, the Select Build Environment window is displayed, as shown in Figure 4. The option Use JDeveloper’s default build tools is selected by default. Click Next.
Figure 4: Select Build Environment
Next, the Name your project window is displayed, as shown in Figure 5. With the default Project Name (Client) and Directory, select Java in Project Features and click Next.
Figure 5: Name your project
In the Configure Java settings window, specify a Default Package (helloworld) (see Figure 6). The Java Source Path and Output Directory get configured based on the application name specified earlier. Click Finish.
Figure 6: Configure Java settings
A new Java Desktop Application, HelloWorld, gets created and added to the Applications view, as shown in Figure 7. The Client project in the application also gets added.
Figure 7: New Java Desktop Application HelloWorld
Setting Project Properties
To find or modify the project properties, select Application>Project Properties, as shown in Figure 8.
Figure 8: Application>Project Properties
Alternatively, right-click the Client project and select Project Properties, as shown in Figure 9.
Figure 9: Client>Project Properties
The Project Properties window gets displayed, as shown in Figure 10. The Libraries and Classpath lists the libraries and jars in the classpath of the project. The Java SE Version is set to 1.8 by default and also labeled as Default. No modification or addition is required for a HelloWorld Java application.
Figure 10: Project Properties>Java SE Version
The Compiler node displays the Java compiler settings (see Figure 11). The Current Compiler is listed as Javac. The JVM memory is set to 512m by default and may be modified by selecting the Out of Process checkbox, which makes the Out of Process JVM Options field editable.
Figure 11: Compiler Settings
The Compiler>Excludes is to specify any project files and directories to be excluded from the build. We don’t need to exclude any files and directories. The Options section is to configure the various Javac options, as shown in Figure 12.
Figure 12: Javac options
The Project Source Paths displays the settings for Java source paths, whether subfolders are to be included or excluded, the Output Directory for the class files generated, and the Default Package, as shown in Figure 13.
Figure 13: Project Source Paths
The project properties may be modified even after the Java application, including classes and interfaces, have been created. JDeveloper is not required to be restarted to apply the new project properties.
Next, we shall demonstrate creating a HelloWorld application consisting of a Java interface and a Java class that implements the interface.
Creating a Java Interface
To create a Java interface, right-click the Client project and select New>Java Interface, as shown in Figure 14.
Figure 14: Client>New>Java Interface
Alternatively, select the Client project and click File>New>Java Interface, as shown in Figure 15.
Figure 15: File>New>Java Interface
As another alternative, select From Gallery with either of the preceding two options instead of selecting Java Interface. The New Gallery window gets displayed. Select General>Java in Categories and Interface in Items (see Figure 16).
Figure 16: Selecting Java Interface in New Gallery
The Create Java Interface window gets displayed, as shown in Figure 17. Specify an interface Name (HelloWorld) and the Package name is pre-configured to the Default Package setting in Configure Java Settings, as shown earlier in Figure 6. Click OK.
Figure 17: Create Java Interface
The Java interface HelloWorld gets created and added to the Client project, as shown in Figure 18. The Java source file for the interface gets generated in the Project Source Path directory.
Figure 18: Java Interface HelloWorld
Add a getMessage(String) method to the Java interface, as shown in Figure 19.
Figure 19: HelloWorld Interface with Method getMessage(String)
The HelloWorld interface is listed:
package helloworld; public interface HelloWorld { String getMessage(String name); }
Conclusion
In the first of two articles, we discussed creating a Java project in JDeveloper, setting project properties, and creating a Java interface for a Hello World Java application. In a subsequent article, we shall discuss creating and running a Java class.