Java <-> C Bridge

Question

I'm working on a application which has Java web interface hosted on Glassfish server and C kernel which is implemented as Linux daemon.

My biggest problem right now is how to make Remote Procedure Calls. I need to call functions and methods in both directions. These are the possible solutions that I can think of:

1. Use Java Native Interface and network sockets to implement RPC.
2. D-Bus - as far as I know DBus can be used for RPC between Java and C.

I want to use the most basic way without using external libraries or frameworks. Is it possible directly to call functions/methods between Java and C using only sockets? The OS that I use is Centos.

Is there more elegant way to connect the two languages?

Answer 1

Without external libraries, only sockets remain. But I would classify DBus as an external library, wouldn't you?

If the C program can use sockets, there is no need for Java Native Interface. The Java code can open sockets from Java, calling the sockets the C code listens to.

If you allow DBus, maybe you should consider the plethora of networking and RPC protocols which have libraries for both C and Java. (Again, no need to use JNI.)

Going the DBus way, look at the Java documentation and the tutorial.