This document gives an overview of the JDK directories and the files they contain.
Development Files and Directories
This section describes the files and directories that are required to develop apps for the Java platform. (The
directories that are not required include demos, Java source code, and C header files. They are discussed in the
following section, Additional Files and Directories.) The following chart shows the most
important directories:
Assuming the JDK software is installed at c:\jdk1.2, here are the crucial directories and why they
are important:
c:\jdk1.2
The root directory of the JDK software installation. Contains copyright, license, and README files. Also includes:
src.jar -- the archive of source files for all the classes that make up the Java platform's core API.
c:\jdk1.2\bin
The executable files for the development tools contained in the Java Development Kit. The PATH environment
variable should contain an entry for this directory. For more information on the tools, see the JDK
Tools.
c:\jdk1.2\lib
Files used by the development tools. These include tools.jar, which contains non-core classes
for support of the tools and utilities in the JDK. Also includes dt.jar, the DesignTime archive of
BeanInfo files that tell interactive development environments (IDE's) how to display the Java components and how
to let the developer customize them for the application.
c:\jdk1.2\jre
The root directory of the Java runtime environment used by the JDK development tools. The runtime environment
is an implementation of the Java 1.2 platform. It is exactly the same as the deployable JRE, minus the documentation.
c:\jdk1.2\jre\bin
Executable files and DLLs for tools and libraries used by the Java platform. The executable files are identical
to files in /jdk1.2/bin. The java launcher tool serves as an application launcher, in place
of the old jre tool that shipped with 1.1 versions of the JDK software. This directory does not need to
be in the PATH environment variable.
c:\jdk1.2\jre\bin\classic
Contains the Windows DLL files used by the classic VM. The classic VM is the language-interpreter version
of the Java Virtual Machine. When newer virtual machines are available, their DLLs will be installed in a new subdirectory
of jre/bin.
c:\jdk1.2\jre\lib
Code libraries, property settings, and resource files used by the Java runtime environment. Includes:
rt.jar -- the bootstrap classes (the RunTime classes that comprise the Java platform's
core API).
i18n.jar -- the character-conversion classes and other files associated with internationalization
and localization.
Aside from the ext subdirectory (described below) there are several additional resource subdirectories
not described here.
c:\jdk1.2\jre\lib\ext
Default installation directory for Extensions to the Java platform. This is where the JavaHelp jar file goes
when it is installed, for example. Includes:
iiimp.jar -- the classes that implement the Internet-Intranet Input Method Protocol, used by apps that
accept input from devices using an international character set.
c:\jdk1.2\jre\lib\security
Contains files used for security management. These include the security policy (java.policy) and
security properties (java.security) files.
Additional Files and Directories
This section describes the directory structure for the demos, Java source code, and C header files. Here is
the directory structure:
Header files that support native-code programming using older interfaces. These header files are provided only
for backward-compatibility. These interfaces are deprecated, unsupported and not available on all Java virtual
machines.