What is Janino?

Janino is a compiler that reads a Java^TM expression, block, class body, source file or a set of source files, and generates Java^TM bytecode that is loaded and executed directly. Janino is not intended to be a development tool, but an embedded compiler for run-time compilation purposes, e.g. expression evaluators or "server pages" engines like JSP.

JANINO is integrated with Apache Commons JCI ("Java Compiler Interface") and JBoss Rules / Drools.

JANINO can also be used for static code analysis or code manipulation.

Properties

The major design goal was to keep the compiler small and simple, while providing an (almost) JAVAC 1.4 compatible compiler. I don't like the idea of carrying around huge libraries for simple applications.

The following elements of the Java programming language are implemented:

• package declaration, import declaration
• class declaration, interface declaration
• Inheritance (extends and implements)
• Static member type declaration
• Inner classes (member classes, local classes, anonymous classes)
• Class initializer, Instance initializer
• Field declaration, Method declaration
• Local variable declaration
• Class variable initializer, Instance variable initializer
• Block statement ({...})
• if ... else statement
• for statement
• while statement
• do ... while statement
• try ... catch ... finally statement
• throw statement
• return statement
• break statement
• continue statement
• switch statement
• synchronized statement
• All primitive types (boolean, char, byte, short, int, long, float, double)
• Assignment operator =
• Assignment operators +=, -=, *=, /=, &=, |=, ^=, %=, <<=, >>=, >>>=
• Conditional operators ?...:, &&, ||
• Boolean logical operators &, ^, |
• Integer bitwise operators &, ^, |
• Numeric operators *, /, %, +, -, <<, >>, >>>
• String concatenation operator +
• Operators ++ and --
• Type comparison operator instanceof
• Unary operators +, -, ~, !
• Parenthesized expression
• Field access (like System.out)
• Superclass member access (super.meth();, super.field = x;

Properties (cont'd.)

• this (reference to current instance)
• Alternate constructor invocation (like this(a, b, c))
• Superclass constructor invocation (like super(a, b, c))
• Method invocation (like System.out.println("Hello")) (partially)
• Class instance creation (like new Foo())
• Primitive array creation(like new int[10][5][])
• Class or interface array creation(like new Foo[10][5][])
• Array access (like args[0]) (currently read-only)
• Local variable access
• Integer, floating-point, boolean, character, string literal
• null literal
• Unary numeric conversion, binary numeric conversion, widening numeric conversion, narrowing numeric conversion
• Widening reference conversion, narrowing reference conversion
• Cast
• Assignment conversion
• String conversion (for string concatenation)
• Constant expression
• Block scope, method scope, class scope, global scope
• throws clause
• Array initializer (like {{String[] a = { "x", "y", "z" }}})
• Primitive class literals, e.g. "int.class"
• Non-primitive class literals, e.g. "String.class"
• References between uncompiled compilation units
• Line number tables a la "-g:lines"
• Source file information a la "-g:source"
• Handling of @deprecated doc comment tag
• Accessibility checking (PUBLIC, PROTECTED, PRIVATE)
• Local variable information information for debugging (i.e. "-g:vars")
• Checking of "definite assignment" (JLS2 16)
• Methods that compile to more than 32 KB
• J2SE 5.0: Static imports (single and on-demand; fields, types and methods)
• J2SE 5.0: Autoboxing and unboxing
• J2SE 5.0: StringBuilder class used (if available) for string concatenation

Limitations

• Local variable information information for debugging is not yet implemented (i.e. "-g:vars" is ignored)
• J2SE 5.0: Covariant return types

Limitations

• assert (a JDK 1.4 language feature) is not implemented
• J2SE 5.0: Parametrized types (generics)
• J2SE 5.0: Enhanced FOR loop
• J2SE 5.0: Typesafe enums
• J2SE 5.0: Variable arguments
• J2SE 5.0: Annotations
• J2SE 5.0: Covariant return types
• Checking of "definite assignment" (JLS2 16) is not executed
• Methods that compile to more than 32 KB of bytecode cannot be compiled (other Java^TM compilers support up to 64 KB per method)

Imprint

Arno Unkrig
Anderlmühle 11
83626 Valley
Federal Republic of Germany