Elide for Java users

Elide bundles JDK 25 with a build tool, Maven dependency resolver, JUnit runner and formatter in one binary.

Run the same code

A source file with a main method compiles and runs directly:

elide run Main.java

elide java, elide javac, elide jar and elide javadoc run the JDK 25 tools without a JDK install. Their arguments go after --:

elide javac -- -d out Main.java
elide java -- -cp out Main
elide jar -- --create --file app.jar -C out .
elide java -- -version

The distribution’s bin/ holds java, javac, jar, javadoc and javap, so an existing build can use it as JAVA_HOME; see JVM Toolchain.

A project is an elide.pkl file, which also lists Maven dependencies:

amends "elide:project.pkl"

jvm { main = "com.example.Hello" }

dependencies {
  maven {
    packages { "com.google.guava:guava:33.4.8-jre" }
  }
}

elide init --plain --skip-defaults --template java   # new project
elide install                                        # resolve Maven dependencies
elide build                                          # compile and assemble
elide test                                           # run JUnit tests
elide run                                            # run jvm.main
elide format -- src                                  # Google Java Format

JUnit is on the test classpath without a declared dependency. See Java and Kotlin with Elide, Testing and the elide.pkl reference.

What changes

Benchmarks

No benchmarks are published for JVM programs in 1.6.0. For ahead-of-time builds, see Native Image.

Strengths

• One binary replaces the JDK, Maven resolver, JUnit launcher and Google Java Format.
• elide.pkl declares dependencies, tests and artifacts without plugins.
• Annotation processors run in elide build and elide javac from a processors bucket.

Weaknesses

• No Gradle support: elide build does not read build.gradle or build.gradle.kts, and Gradle plugins have no equivalent.
• elide install -p . does not merge POM parents or imported BOMs; versions inherited from a parent are dropped.
• No jlink, jpackage or jshell command, and JavaFX is not included.
• elide adopt is untested on multi-module and Android projects.
• javac jtreg tests: 99.9% pass (1 fail, 2 errors); see the Compatibility Matrix.
• JDK tool arguments go after --: elide javac -d out Main.java exits 2.

Next steps

• Java and Kotlin with Elide
• JVM APIs
• Adopt an Existing Project
• JVM Toolchain