could someone tell me how to make my program a REAL program...usable outside the java ide?

Question

...its a real simple one.

but i want people to be able to download it and use it just be clicking on it. ...surely this cant be THAT hard..... but i cant figure it out.... HELP PLEASE!

Answer 1

"How do I make an .EXE file from my Java application?", "Need help converting jar to exe", "Is it possible to create a Windows executable using Java?" --- these and similar questions are among the most popular topics on Java developer forums. Should you start such a topic today, you are likely to encounter the following three types of replies:
o "You cannot"
o "You should not, because that would kill the very purpose of Java"
o "You can do that with third party software X and Y"

The truth is that there exist two completely different approaches to the creation of native executables from Java applications, addressing different sets of problems. Moreover, under certain conditions some of those problems may be solved without making an EXE. So the most correct way to reply to such a post would be a request for more information, namely what is the goal of conversion to EXE. And the most frequent answer would be ..... Read More @ the link below.

Answer 2

I assume M$ Windows...
I assume you did a java application, not a java applet

either as your .jar file or zip it in a folder, .class files.
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For the install. zip file (self-extracting or otherwise) should suffice. You can put the JRE inside your application folders. No install is required for the JRE.

Make the most spiffy Microsoft shortcut you know how to make.

For launching the application, get to the properties in the shortcut, with the javaw command in the 'target' field, which will allow you to launch it without a command prompt (the DOS window) and allow you to specify an icon.

javaw meinUbberKillerMonsterApplication

Installers are overrated. The windows registry is a pain in the butt. I avoid both of them.

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That will get you the Windows. For a real OS, like Linux, it is a shell command.