CODEWITHSUNDEEP
javacompilation
Freewind
Freewind

Reputation: 198198

Is it possible to compile a java file without providing its dependencies?

There is a java file, which has some dependencies jars. But now, I don't have those jars, and I have to compile it to a .class file.

Is it possible to do this?

UPDATE

Thanks for your answers.

At first, I thought we can create some stubs for the missing dependencies, that's easy but boring. Since we can create the stubs without missing stubs to make the compiler happy, why can't we make a tool do it automatically? The tool doesn't need to create stubs, but reads the java file, collects informations, and then builds the .class files.

But if the "import" statements in the java file contain "*", that will be a problem:

import aaa.*
import bbb.*

public class Hello {
   World world;
}

We don't know if the class "World" is under package "aaa" or "bbb". If we are not familiar with the missing dependencies, we even don't know how to create a stub for the class "World".

But if the "import" statements are clear, I think it's possible, but maybe no one will write such a tool

Upvotes: 13

Views: 8094

Answers (4)

Rohit A.
Rohit A.

Reputation: 1775

Before any file is compiled it always looks up for any dependencies. but you said you dont have those jars!!!

see if you can remove the dependencies relation for that project/file and then try to compile it. give it a try!

Upvotes: 1

aroth
aroth

Reputation: 54806

No. But you could provide stubbed-out versions of the dependency class files, if it is only a handful of classes that the code your are trying to compile uses directly.

Then in theory if you take the .class file that compiles and place the real dependencies on the classpath with it your app will work using the correct (non-stubbed-out) dependency classes.

Upvotes: 3

Tom
Tom

Reputation: 44821

You could go crazy and hand craft the required dependencies as stubs that do nothing except keep the compiler happy.

Upvotes: 13

Asaph
Asaph

Reputation: 162771

No. Sorry. You'll need all dependncies in the classpath to compile.

Upvotes: 5

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