Use Java as “scripting” language in C++ [duplicate]

Question

Let’s say I’m designing a cross-platform application in C++ that can be user-extended through add-ons. The application then offer a C++ API and will load dynamic objects (.so, .dll, etc.). But, this is cumbersome for users to have to compile for the 6 target platforms (Windows x86/x86-64, MacOS X x86/x86-64 and GNU/Linux x86/x86-64).

In order to keep portability, I thought of providing a Ruby API using libruby. With a little work I came with a proof of concept. The problem is that I’m worried about performances. These add-ons may get big and CRuby isn't that fast.

Then I thought, why not Java?

Java bytecode has better runtime performances, especially with JIT;
It is portable;
Distribution is simple, users only have to provide a jar;
Users can provide closed-source add-ons (even if decompiling Java bytecode is not that hard);
More people know about Java than Ruby.

The question is now, how to achieve this? I made some research and only found out about JNI (Java native interface). This seems, though, to be able to “call” C++ from Java and not the other way around.

Please check this earlier post stackoverflow.com/questions/819536/… — Aninda Bhattacharyya
– Aninda Bhattacharyya, Commented Jun 19, 2015 at 19:43

Andy Thomas · Accepted Answer · 2015-06-19 19:41:26Z

3

You can use the JNI Invocation API, which allows you to launch a VM from C or C++.

Once you've launched the VM, the JNI specification lists many other C functions for interacting with Java.

I made some research and only found out about JNI (Java native interface). This seems, though, to be able to “call” C++ from Java and not the other way around.

You're probably looking at native functions, which allow you to define Java methods in C.

answered Jun 19, 2015 at 19:41

Andy Thomas

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