Java Platform Standard Edition 6 Development Kit Readme
Contents
Introduction
Thank you for downloading this release of the Java Platform, Standard Edition Development Kit (JDK ). The JDK is a development environment for building applications, applets, and components using the Java programming language.
The JDK includes tools useful for developing and testing programs written in the Java programming language and running on the Java platform.
System Requirements & Installation
System requirements, installation instructions and troubleshooting tips are located on the Java Software web site at:
JDK 6 Installation Instructions
JDK Documentation
The on-line Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE) Documentation contains API specifications, feature descriptions, developer guides, reference pages for JDK tools and utilities, demos, and links to related information. This documentation is also available in a download bundle which you can install on your machine. To obtain the documentation bundle, see the download page. For API documentation, refer to the The Java Platform, Standard Edition API Specification This provides brief descriptions of the API with an emphasis on specifications, not on code examples.
Release Notes
See the Java SE 6 Release Notes on the Java Software web site for additional information pertaining to this release. Please check the on-line release notes occasionally for the latest information as they will be updated as needed.
Compatibility
See Compatibility with Previous Releases on the Java Software web site for the list of known compatibility issues. Every effort has been made to support programs written for previous versions of the Java platform. Although some incompatible changes were necessary, most software should migrate to the current version with no reprogramming. Any failure to do so is considered a bug, except for a small number of cases where compatibility was deliberately broken, as described on our compatibility web page. Some compatibility-breaking changes were required to close potential security holes or to fix implementation or design bugs.
Bug Reports and Feedback
The Bug Database web site lets you search for and examine existing bug reports, submit your own bug reports, and tell us which bug fixes matter most to you. To directly submit a bug or request a feature, fill out this form:
Note - Please do not seek technical support through the Bug Database or our development teams.
Contents of the JDK
This section contains a general summary of the files and directories in the JDK . For details on the files and directories, see the JDK File Structure section of the Java SE documentation for your platform.
Development Tools
(In the bin/ subdirectory) Tools and utilities that will help you develop, execute, debug, and document programs written in the Java programming language. For further information, see the tool documentation.
Runtime Environment
(In the jre/ subdirectory) An implementation of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE ) for use by the JDK. The JRE includes a Java Virtual Machine (JVM ), class libraries, and other files that support the execution of programs written in the Java programming language.
Additional Libraries
(In the lib/ subdirectory) Additional class libraries and support files required by the development tools.
Demo Applets and Applications
(In the demo/ subdirectory) Examples, with source code, of programming for the Java platform. These include examples that use Swing and other Java Foundation Classes, and the Java Platform Debugger Architecture.
Sample Code
(In the sample subdirectory) Samples, with source code, of programming for certain Java API's.
C header Files
(In the include/ subdirectory) Header files that support native-code programming using the Java Native Interface, the JVM Tool Interface , and other functionality of the Java platform.
Source Code
(In src.zip) Java programming language source files for all classes that make up the Java core API (that is, sources files for the java.*, javax.* and some org.* packages, but not for com.sun.* packages). This source code is provided for informational purposes only, to help developers learn and use the Java programming language. These files do not include platform-specific implementation code and cannot be used to rebuild the class libraries. To extract these file, use any common zip utility. Or, you may use the Jar utility in the JDK's bin/ directory:
jar xvf src.zip
The Java Runtime Environment (JRE )
The Java Runtime Environment (JRE ) is available as a separately downloadable product. See the download web site.
The JRE allows you to run applications written in the Java programming language. Like the JDK , it contains the Java Virtual Machine (JVM ), classes comprising the Java platform API, and supporting files. Unlike the JDK, it does not contain development tools such as compilers and debuggers.
You can freely redistribute the JRE with your application, according to the terms of the JRE license. Once you have developed your application using the JDK, you can ship it with the JRE so your end-users will have a Java platform on which to run your software.
Redistribution
NOTE - The license for this software does not allow the redistribution of beta and other pre-release versions.
Subject to the terms and conditions of the Software License Agreement and the obligations, restrictions, and exceptions set forth below, You may reproduce and distribute the Software (and also portions of Software identified below as Redistributable), provided that:
you distribute the Software complete and unmodified and only bundled as part of Your applets and applications ("Programs"),
your Programs add significant and primary functionality to the Software,
your Programs are only intended to run on Java-enabled general purpose desktop computers and servers,
you distribute Software for the sole purpose of running your Programs,
you do not distribute additional software intended to replace any component(s) of the Software,
you do not remove or alter any proprietary legends or notices contained in or on the Software,
you only distribute the Software subject to a license agreement that protects Oracle's interests consistent with the terms contained in this Agreement, and
you agree to defend and indemnify Oracle and its licensors from and against any damages, costs, liabilities, settlement amounts and/or expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with any claim, lawsuit or action by any third party that arises or results from the use or distribution of any and all Programs and/or Software.
The term "vendors" used here refers to licensees, developers, and independent software vendors (ISVs) who license and distribute the Java Development Kit (JDK ) with their programs.
Vendors must follow the terms of the Java Development Kit Binary Code License agreement.
Required vs. Optional Files
The files that make up the Java Development Kit (JDK ) are divided into two categories: required and optional. Optional files may be excluded from redistributions of the JDK at the vendor's discretion.
The following section contains a list of the files and directories that may optionally be omitted from redistributions of the JDK. All files not in these lists of optional files must be included in redistributions of the JDK.
Optional Files and Directories
The following files may be optionally excluded from redistributions. These files are located in the jdk1.6.0_<version> directory, where <version> is the update version number. Solaris and Linux filenames and separators are shown. Windows executables have the ".exe" suffix. Corresponding files with _g in the name can also be excluded. The corresponding man pages should be excluded for any excluded executables (with paths listed below beginning with bin/, for the Solaris Operating System and Linux).
jre/lib/charsets.jar
Character conversion classes
jre/lib/ext/
sunjce_provider.jar - the SunJCE provider for Java Cryptography APIs
localedata.jar - contains many of the resources needed for non US English locales
ldapsec.jar - contains security features supported by the LDAP service provider
dnsns.jar - for the InetAddress wrapper of JNDI DNS provider
bin/rmid and jre/bin/rmid
Java RMI Activation System Daemon
bin/rmiregistry and jre/bin/rmiregistry
Java Remote Object Registry
bin/tnameserv and jre/bin/tnameserv
Java IDL Name Server
bin/keytool and jre/bin/keytool
Key and Certificate Management Tool
bin/kinit and jre/bin/kinit
Used to obtain and cache Kerberos ticket-granting tickets
bin/klist and jre/bin/klist
Kerberos display entries in credentials cache and keytab
bin/ktab and jre/bin/ktab
Kerberos key table manager
bin/policytool and jre/bin/policytool
Policy File Creation and Management Tool
bin/orbd and jre/bin/orbd
Object Request Broker Daemon
bin/servertool and jre/bin/servertool
Java IDL Server Tool
bin/javaws, jre/bin/javaws, jre/lib/javaws/ and jre/lib/javaws.jar
Java Web Start
db/
Java DB, Oracle's distribution of the Apache Derby database (only with file based distributions of the JDK).
demo/
Demo Applets and Applications
sample/
Sample Code
src.zip
Archive of source files
Redistributable JDK Files
The limited set of files and directories from the JDK listed below may be included in vendor redistributions of the Java Runtime Environment (JRE ). They cannot be redistributed separately, and must accompany an identically versioned JRE distribution. All paths are relative to the top-level directory of the JDK. The corresponding man pages should be included for any included executables (with paths listed below beginning with bin/, for the Solaris Operating System and Linux).
jre/lib/cmm/PYCC.pf
Color profile. This file is required only if one wishes to convert between the PYCC color space and another color space.
All .ttf font files in the jre/lib/fonts/ directory.
Note that the LucidaSansRegular.ttf font is already contained in the JRE, so there is no need to bring that file over from the JDK.
jre/lib/audio/soundbank.gm
This MIDI soundbank is present in the JDK, but it has been removed from the JRE in order to reduce the size of the JRE download bundle. However, a soundbank file is necessary for MIDI playback, and therefore the JDK's soundbank.gm file may be included in redistributions of the JRE at the vendor's discretion. Several versions of enhanced MIDI soundbanks are available from the Java. These alternative soundbanks may be included in redistributions of the JRE.
The javac bytecode compiler, consisting of the following files:
bin/javac [Solaris Operating System and Linux]
bin/sparcv9/javac [Solaris Operating System (SPARC(R) Platform Edition)]
bin/amd64/javac [Solaris Operating System (AMD)]
bin/javac.exe [Microsoft Windows]
lib/tools.jar [All platforms]
The Annotation Processing Tool, consisting of the following files:
lib/tools.jar [All platforms]
bin/apt [Solaris Operating System and Linux]
bin/sparcv9/apt [Solaris Operating System (SPARC(R) Platform Edition)]
bin/amd64/apt [Solaris Operating System (AMD)]
bin/apt.exe [Microsoft Windows]
lib/jconsole.jar
The Jconsole application. NOTE: The Jconsole application requires the dynamic attach mechanism.
The dynamic attach mechanism consisting of the following files:
lib/tools.jar [All platforms]
jre/lib/sparc/libattach.so [Solaris Operating System (SPARC(R) Platform Edition) and Linux]
jre/lib/sparcv9/libattach.so [Solaris Operating System (SPARC(R) Platform Edition) and Linux]
jre/lib/i386/libattach.so [Solaris Operating System (x86) and Linux]
jre/lib/amd64/libattach.so [Solaris Operating System (AMD) and Linux]
jre\bin\attach.dll [Microsoft Windows]
The Java Platform Debugger Architecture implementation consisting of the files shown in the dynamic attach section above, and the following files:
lib/tools.jar [All platforms]
lib/sa-jdi.jar [All platforms]
jre/lib/sparc/libsaproc.so [Solaris Operating System (SPARC(R) Platform Edition) and Linux]
jre/lib/sparcv9/libsaproc.so [Solaris Operating System (SPARC(R) Platform Edition) and Linux]
jre/lib/i386/libsaproc.so [Solaris Operating System (x86) and Linux]
jre/lib/amd64/libsaproc.so [Solaris Operating System (AMD) and Linux]
jre\bin\server\
On Microsoft Windows platforms, the JDK includes both the Java HotSpot Server VM and Java HotSpot Client VM. However, the JRE for Microsoft Windows platforms includes only the Java HotSpot Client VM. Those wishing to use the Java HotSpot Server VM with the JRE may copy the JDK's jre\bin\server folder to a bin\server directory in the JRE. Software vendors may redistribute the Java HotSpot Server VM with their redistributions of the JRE.
Unlimited Strength Java Cryptography Extension
Due to import control restrictions for some countries, the Java Cryptography Extension (JCE) policy files shipped with the JDK and the JRE allow strong but limited cryptography to be used. These files are located at
<java-home>/lib/security/local_policy.jar
<java-home>/lib/security/US_export_policy.jar
<java-home> is the jre directory of the JDK or the top-level directory of the JRE. An unlimited strength version of these files indicating no restrictions on cryptographic strengths is available on the JDK web site for those living in eligible countries. Those living in eligible countries may download the unlimited strength version and replace the strong cryptography jar files with the unlimited strength files.
The cacerts Certificates File
Root CA certificates may be added to or removed from the Java SE certificate file located at
<java-home>/lib/security/cacerts
For more information, see The cacerts Certificates File section in the keytool documentation.
Java Endorsed Standards Override Mechanism
From time to time it is necessary to update the Java platform in order to incorporate newer versions of standards that are created outside of the Java Community Process SM (JCP SM http://www.jcp.org/) ( Endorsed Standards), or in order to update the version of a technology included in the platform to correspond to a later standalone version of that technology ( Standalone Technologies).
The Endorsed Standards Override Mechanism provides a means whereby later versions of classes and interfaces that implement Endorsed Standards or Standalone Technologies may be incorporated into the Java Platform.
For more information on the Endorsed Standards Override Mechanism, including the list of platform packages that it may be used to override, see
Java DB
This distribution bundles Java DB, Oracle's distribution of the Apache Derby pure Java database technology. Default installation locations are:
- Solaris:
/opt/SUNWjavadb - Linux:
/opt/sun/javadb - Windows:
C:\Program Files\Sun\JavaDB
For information on Java DB and Derby, including user and API documentation, the capabilities of Java DB and further resources, see the index.html file in the above directories.
Note that file based distributions of the JDK on Solaris and Linux include Java DB in the ${JAVA_HOME}/db directory.
Web Pages
For additional information, see the following web pages:
The Java Software web site, with the latest information on Java technology, product information, news, and features.
The Java Development Kit (JDK) is a product of Oracle.