Is there a Java library to access the native Windows API?

Question

Is there a Java library to access the native Windows API? Either with COM or JNI.

Answer 1

You could try these two, I have seen success with both.

http://jawinproject.sourceforge.net

The Java/Win32 integration project (Jawin) is a free, open source architecture for interoperation between Java and components exposed through Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) or through Win32 Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs).

https://github.com/twall/jna/

JNA provides Java programs easy access to native shared libraries (DLLs on Windows) without writing anything but Java code—no JNI or native code is required. This functionality is comparable to Windows' Platform/Invoke and Python's ctypes. Access is dynamic at runtime without code generation.

JNA allows you to call directly into native functions using natural Java method invocation. The Java call looks just like it does in native code. Most calls require no special handling or configuration; no boilerplate or generated code is required.

Also read up here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Native_Interface

The Java Native Interface (JNI) is a programming framework that allows Java code running in a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to call and to be called1 by native applications (programs specific to a hardware and operating system platform) and libraries written in other languages, such as C, C++ and assembly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Native_Access

Java Native Access provides Java programs easy access to native shared libraries without using the Java Native Interface. JNA's design aims to provide native access in a natural way with a minimum of effort. No boilerplate or generated glue code is required.

Answer 2

JNA is pretty nice. I'm just a beginner and I found it very easy. Works not only for the Win32 API but for almost any other DLL.

Answer 3

Jacob is quite good on the COM side (but it's real COM - like you write in C++ - if you are familiar with true COM programming, then Jacob is a snap to use)

Answer 4

JNIWrapper or ConfyJ from from TeamDev.

Answer 5

One more option is WinRun4J. It has a native binding layer that aims to be compatible with pinvoke.net (the native binding format used in dot net). See examples for more information. Its a little early days so YMMV.

(full disclosure: i work on the project).

Yet another option is JFFI - this is used in jruby and jython to interact with native libraries.

Answer 6

Check out Waffle