Compile a java program given in a String

Question

I want to conduct a little experiment, and generate a java program in a String (the experiment is itself in Java).

Now I want to test whether it compiles or not. How do I take a String object in Java and see whether it is legal Java code?

Clarification:

String prog = "public interface B {public void speak();}"
boolean doesItCompile = ???

please write some algorithm, i am unable to get what you are talking about. — amod
– amod, Commented Sep 14, 2011 at 11:43
First thing that comes to mind (since it's fairly obvious): write strings to a .java file. And then try to compile it using Runtime.exec. And then read the standard output and error streams. But there might be an easier way... — mre
– mre, Commented Sep 14, 2011 at 11:44
Try to use systemcall to write a file and run 'javac'. Process proc = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("javac MyClass.java"); — tgmath
– tgmath, Commented Sep 14, 2011 at 11:45

MByD · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-14 11:45:05Z

6

You should look into javax.tools.JavaCompiler. see this article.

answered Sep 14, 2011 at 11:45

MByD

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Adamski · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-14 11:46:58Z

1

Take a look at JavaCompiler. The API documentation provides an example of how to create a number of compilation tasks and invoke call on each one. The call method returns a boolean to indicate whether each compilation attempt was successful.

answered Sep 14, 2011 at 11:46

Adamski

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ZenMaster · Accepted Answer · 2011-09-14 11:51:34Z

0

There is a compiler API.

Example can be seen here:

answered Sep 14, 2011 at 11:51

ZenMaster

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Community · Accepted Answer · 2017-05-23 12:04:28Z

0

If you just want to verify if the content of the String is legal Java code then you should have a look at antlr. It can be used to parse a java source file and create an abstract syntax tree. If that fails, then the input is not valid.

The first answer to this question shows a working example with a simple grammar. You'd have to use the Java grammar instead.

edited May 23, 2017 at 12:04

CommunityBot

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answered Sep 14, 2011 at 12:11

Andreas Dolk

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