Javac
| Company type | Software |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software development |
| Founder | Martin Odersky (originated from GJ compiler project) |
| Products | Java compiler |
| Owner | Oracle Corporation |
| Website | docs |
javac (articulated as "java-see") serves as the main Java compiler bundled within the Java Development Kit (JDK) provided by Oracle Corporation. Originating from Martin Odersky's GJ compiler project, javac transforms source files adhering to the Java language specification (JLS) into Java bytecode that complies with the Java Virtual Machine Specification (JVMS).
Implemented in Java, javac is also accessible via programmatic calls, facilitating its incorporation into various development environments and automated processes.
History
A pivotal moment occurred on 13 November 2006 when Sun Microsystems made its HotSpot Java virtual machine (JVM) and JDK available under the GPL license, advancing the open-source evolution of Java.
Starting with version 0.95, GNU Classpath, a freely licensed implementation of the Java Class Library, has enabled the compilation and execution of javac through its runtime system — the GNU Interpreter for Java (GIJ) — alongside its compiler — the GNU Compiler for Java (GCJ). This capability includes compiling GNU Classpath’s own class libraries, utilities, and demonstration programs using javac.
See also
- Java compiler – summary and alternatives to javac
- Java Platform
- OpenJDK
External links
- The Compiler Group
- JSR 199 Java Compiler API for invoking javac programmatically
- Mercurial repository
- Java Language Specification