About

This is a NodeJS utility & library for running Java Web Start pacages with a java version that does not (no longer) include the javaws feature. The utility is written in TypeScript, and comes packaged an installable as an NPM package.

Why this tool?

At some point I found myself without a suitable Java runtime that could still run a Java Web Start package, which I needed in order to validate some files to be uploaded to the tax administration. Checking the JNLP file and running the tool manually was easy enough, but I still felt... a new tool could come in handy... so here we are...

Features

• Downloading a JNLP specified from an http or https url
• Using a locally stored JNLP file
• Parsing the downloaded/read JNLP file
• Downloading the JNLP jar file, with a progress bar
• Caching a JNLP jar file (auto check for newer version)
• Running the JNLP from the downloaded or cached Jar file
• Interrupting The running Java process when the Node process is interrupted
• Redirecting java stdout, stderr to the Node process
• Redirecting Node stdin, to the Java process
• Verfifying the Jar signature using jarsigner (if installed)

Dependencies

• A suitable version of Java must be installed on your system.
• A suitable JDK must be installed in order to be able to use the jarsigner validation
• This library uses the libxmljs2 and cli-progress libraries.

Installing

npm -g install javawebstart

Usage

# If locally installed via npm install  -g
javawebstart <jnlp-url> [--trust]

# Via NPX
npx -g javawebstart <jnlp-url>

API

It is possible to use this module as an API as well.

// Import the main class of the library
import {JavaWebStart} from "javawebstart";

// Download a remote or local JNLP file
let starter = await JavaWebStart.downloadJNLP(jnlpUrl);

// OR use existing XML
starter = new JavaWebStart(myJNLPXml);

// Optionally, await the download first or only
// await starter.download();

// Or just run (potentially with options)
await starter.run();

Run options

The run method can taken an options object, with the following optional properties:

• Explicitly trust the jar
• A jar location
• An alternative 'WritableStream' for
  • stdout
  • stderr
• An alternative `ReadableStream' for the reading input

Credits

cli-progress

Copyright (c) 2015-2020 Andi Dittrich (MIT LICENSE)

LICENSE

libxmljs2

Copyright 2009, Squish Tech, LLC. All rights reserved.

LICENSE

Disclaimer

Java Web Start It is up to you to validate if the JNLP and jar file you wish to run come from a trusted source. I can not be held liable for ANY damage that might occur from using this utility. There is no warranty whatsoever.