Null Pointer Exception while using Java Compiler API

Question

MyClass.java:

package test;
public class MyClass {
    public void myMethod(){
        System.out.println("My Method Called");
    }
}

Listing for SimpleCompileTest.java that compiles the MyClass.java file.

SimpleCompileTest.java:

package test;
import javax.tools.*;
public class SimpleCompileTest {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
String fileToCompile = "test" + java.io.File.separator +"MyClass.java";
JavaCompiler compiler = ToolProvider.getSystemJavaCompiler();
int compilationResult = compiler.run(null, null, null, fileToCompile);
        if(compilationResult == 0){
            System.out.println("Compilation is successful");
        }else{
            System.out.println("Compilation Failed");
        }
    }
}

I am executing the SimpleCompileTest class and getting a NullPointerException. The ToolProvider.getSystemJavaCompiler() is returning null. Can someone tell me what is wrong with the code

Answer 1

I got the same error. Maybe I am too late to answer this question, but I share my own experiences, it might help someone else facing the same issue in the future. I was playing around with the source code at Compile Java Files At Runtime.

I was getting java.lang.NullPointerException as it is mentioned. I printed out the Java home directory with System.out.println(System.getProperty("java.home"));, and noticed my Eclipse was pointing to "C:\Program Files\Java\jre7" even after I changed my preferences to use JDK1.7 instead of JRE1.7.

I found a workaround by forcing the usage of JDK1.7 by setting system property like this:

System.setProperty("java.home", "C:\\Program Files\\Java\\jdk1.7.0_02");

Then I compiled my program and did not get any NullPointerException.

Answer 2

I suspect you're running into this problem - running the code with a JRE instead of a JDK.

When you run SimpleCompileTest, try explicitly specifying the version of java.exe you're using as the one in your JDK directory.

Answer 3

Probably you have a JRE instead of JDK installed. http://bugs.sun.com/bugdatabase/view_bug.do?bug_id=6477844