How to Automate Builds for Java RCP Deployment Using JNLP?

How can I automate the build process for Java RCP applications in preparation for deployment using JNLP?

// Sample Ant build script for Java RCP
<project name="MyRCPProject" basedir="." default="build">
    <target name="build">
        <exec executable="eclipse">
            <arg line="-nosplash -application org.eclipse.equinox.app.headless.application -data ${workspace_dir} "/>
        </exec>
    </target>
</project>

To automate the build process for Java RCP applications using JNLP (Java Network Launch Protocol), you need to set up a continuous integration environment that regularly compiles your application and prepares it for deployment. Here’s how you can do that step-by-step.

<jnlp spec='1.0' codebase='http://myserver.com/myapp' href='myapp.jnlp'>
  <information>
    <title>My Java RCP Application</title>
    <vendor>My Company</vendor>
    <description>My Java RCP Application Description</description>
  </information>
  <security>
    <all-permissions/>
  </security>
  <resources>
    <j2se version='1.8+' />
    <jar href='myapp.jar' main='true'/>
  </resources>
  <application-desc main-class='com.mycompany.myapp.MainClass'/>
</jnlp>

Causes

• Lack of a robust build tool to manage dependencies and packaging.
• No CI/CD pipeline configured for Java RCP applications.
• Manual build processes that are error-prone and time-consuming.

Solutions

• Use build automation tools like Apache Ant or Maven specifically configured for Java RCP.
• Set up a Continuous Integration (CI) server (like Jenkins or GitLab CI) to automate your builds on code updates.
• Integrate JNLP for easy deployment from the web by creating JNLP files using Java Web Start.

Mistake: Failing to specify the correct Java version in the JNLP file.

Solution: Ensure the <j2se> tag specifies the correct version that your application requires.

Mistake: Not including all required resources in the JNLP file.

Solution: Verify that all JARs and resources are correctly linked in the <resources> section of the JNLP.

Mistake: Ignoring server settings that could block JNLP execution.

Solution: Configure server settings (like MIME types) to allow JNLP files to be served correctly.