Introduction
If you are a Java developer, you may have encountered situations where you need to analyze or modify some Java class files that you don't have the source code for. For example, you may want to debug a third-party library, reverse engineer an obfuscated code, or patch a legacy application. In such cases, you need a tool that can decompile the class files and display the Java source code in a readable and editable format.
One of the most popular and powerful tools for this purpose is JD-GUI, which stands for Java Decompiler Graphical User Interface. JD-GUI is a standalone application that can decompile Java class files and JAR files and show you the reconstructed source code in a graphical interface. You can browse the source code with ease, using features such as tree view, tabs, hyperlinks, search, and syntax highlighting. You can also save the source code as a ZIP file or a directory for further use.
download jd gui
In this article, we will show you how to download and use JD-GUI, as well as how to extend it with custom extensions. By following this guide, you will be able to decompile any Java class file or JAR file and access its source code in minutes.
How to download JD-GUI
The first step is to download JD-GUI from its official GitHub repository. The repository contains the source code of JD-GUI, as well as pre-built binaries for different platforms. You can find the latest release of JD-GUI here:
The latest release at the time of writing this article is JD-GUI 1.6.6, which supports Java versions from 1.1.8 up to 14. You can choose from different formats depending on your operating system:
jd-gui-x.y.z.jar: This is a JAR file that can run on any platform that has Java installed. This is the most portable and simple option.
jd-gui-windows-x.y.z.zip: This is a ZIP file that contains an executable file for Windows users.
jd-gui-osx-x.y.z.tar: This is a TAR file that contains an application for Mac OSX users.
jd-gui-linux-x.y.z.deb: This is a DEB file that can be installed on Debian-based Linux distributions.
jd-gui-linux-x.y.z.rpm: This is a RPM file that can be installed on Red Hat-based Linux distributions.
For this article, we will use the JAR file as an example, but you can use any format that suits your needs. To download the JAR file, simply click on the link and save it to your preferred location. You don't need to install anything, as the JAR file is self-contained and ready to run.
How to launch JD-GUI
Once you have downloaded JD-GUI, you can launch it in different ways depending on your operating system and preference. Here are some of the options:
Double-click on the JAR file
This is the simplest way to launch JD-GUI on any platform that has Java installed. Just double-click on the JAR file and JD-GUI will start automatically. You will see a window like this:
How to download jd gui for windows
Download jd gui source code from github
Download jd gui eclipse plugin
Download jd gui mac os x
Download jd gui linux
Download jd gui jar file
Download jd gui latest version
Download jd gui 1.6.6
Download jd gui decompiler for java
Download jd gui with kar file support
Download jd gui cfg file
Download jd gui intellij idea plugin
Download jd gui rpm package
Download jd gui deb package
Download jd gui zip file
Download jd gui exe file
Download jd gui desktop file
Download jd gui license file
Download jd gui for jrockit
Download jd gui for jikes
Download jd gui for eclipse java compiler
Download jd gui for apache harmony
How to use jd gui to decompile class files
How to extend jd gui with custom extensions
How to uninstall jd gui from your system
How to build jd gui from source code
How to launch jd gui from command line
How to open files with jd gui drag and drop
How to browse reconstructed source code with jd gui
How to access methods and fields with jd gui
How to configure jd gui settings and preferences
How to update jd gui to the latest release
How to report issues and bugs with jd gui
How to contribute to the development of jd gui
How to make a donation for the support of jd gui
How to compare different versions of class files with jd gui
How to export source code from jd gui as zip or jar file
How to import class files from zip or jar file into jd gui
How to view the bytecode of class files with jd gui
How to search for text or symbols in source code with jd gui
How to navigate between classes and packages with jd gui
How to view the hierarchy and dependencies of classes with jd gui
How to view the annotations and metadata of classes with jd gui
How to view the constants and strings of classes with jd gui
How to view the exceptions and errors of classes with jd gui
How to view the local variables and parameters of methods with jd gui
How to view the inner classes and anonymous classes with jd gui
How to view the lambda expressions and functional interfaces with jd gui
How to view the generics and type parameters with jd gui
This is the main interface of JD-GUI, where you can open, browse, and save Java source codes from class or JAR files. We will explain how to use it in the next section.
Use the executable file for Windows or Mac OSX
If you downloaded the ZIP file for Windows or the TAR file for Mac OSX, you can also use the executable file to launch JD-GUI. For Windows users, extract the ZIP file and run jd-gui.exe. For Mac OSX users, extract the TAR file and run JD-GUI.app. You will see the same window as above.
Use the command line with Java
If you are an advanced user who wants to customize the launch options of JD-GUI, you can also use the command line with Java. For example, you can specify the memory allocation, the look and feel, or the classpath for extensions. To do this, open a terminal or a command prompt and type something like this:
java -jar -Xmx512m -Dswing.defaultlaf=com.sun.java.swing.plaf.nimbus.NimbusLookAndFeel -classpath jd-gui-x.y.z.jar;my-extension.jar org.jd.gui.App
This command will launch JD-GUI with 512 MB of memory, using the Nimbus look and feel, and including a custom extension called my-extension.jar. You can modify these options according to your needs. For more information on the available options, you can check the file in the GitHub repository.
How to use JD-GUI
Now that you have launched JD-GUI, you can start using it to decompile Java class files or JAR files and view their source code. In this section, we will provide a step-by-step guide on how to open, browse, and save Java source codes with JD-GUI.
How to open a file with JD-GUI
To open a file with JD-GUI, you have two options: use the menu or drag and drop. To use the menu, click on File and then Open File.... A dialog box will appear where you can select the class or JAR file that you want to open. Alternatively, you can drag and drop the file from your file explorer to the JD-GUI window. Either way, JD-GUI will decompile the file and display its source code in a new tab.
How to browse the source code with JD-GUI
To browse the source code with JD-GUI, you have several features that make it easy and convenient. Here are some of them:
Tree view: On the left side of the window, you will see a tree view that shows the structure of the class or JAR file that you opened. You can expand or collapse the nodes to see the packages, classes, methods, fields, and constants. You can also right-click on any node to access some options such as copy, search, or go to declaration.
Tabs: On the top of the window, you will see tabs that show the names of the files that you opened. You can switch between tabs by clicking on them or using keyboard shortcuts. You can also close tabs by clicking on the x button or using keyboard shortcuts. You can also right-click on any tab to access some options such as close, close others, close all, or reopen closed tab.
Hyperlinks: In the source code, you will see some words that are highlighted in blue and underlined. These are hyperlinks that allow you to jump to the declaration or definition of a class, method, field, or constant. You can click on any hyperlink to go to the corresponding location in the source code. You can also use the Back and Forward buttons on the toolbar to navigate your browsing history.
Search: If you want to find a specific word or phrase in the source code, you can use the search feature of JD-GUI. You can access it by clicking on Edit and then Find..., or by using keyboard shortcuts. A dialog box will appear where you can enter your search query and some options such as case sensitive, whole word, or regular expression. You can also use the Find Next and Find Previous buttons on the toolbar to move between the search results.
Syntax highlighting: To make the source code more readable and understandable, JD-GUI uses syntax highlighting to color different elements of the code such as keywords, comments, strings, numbers, and annotations. You can customize the colors and fonts of the syntax highlighting by clicking on Tools and then Preferences.... A dialog box will appear where you can change the appearance of JD-GUI according to your preference.
Using these features, you can browse the source code of any class or JAR file with ease and convenience.
How to save the source code with JD-GUI
If you want to save the source code of a class or JAR file for further use, you can use the save feature of JD-GUI. You can access it by clicking on File and then Save All Sources..., or by using keyboard shortcuts. A dialog box will appear where you can choose the destination and format of the source code. You have two options:
Save as ZIP file: This option will save the source code of all classes in a single ZIP file. The ZIP file will have the same name as the original class or JAR file, with a .java extension. For example, if you opened a file called my-app.jar, JD-GUI will save it as my-app.jar.java.zip.
Save in a directory: This option will save the source code of each class in a separate file in a directory. The directory will have the same name as the original class or JAR file, with a .java extension. For example, if you opened a file called my-app.jar, JD-GUI will create a directory called my-app.jar.java, and save each class file as my-app.jar.java/package/name/ClassName.java.
You can choose either option depending on your needs. Once you have saved the source code, you can open it with any text editor or IDE and modify it as you wish.
How to extend JD-GUI
If you want to add some custom functionality or features to JD-GUI, you can also extend it with custom extensions. Extensions are JAR files that contain classes that implement some interfaces defined by JD-GUI. For example, you can create an extension that adds a new menu item, a new toolbar button, a new preference option, or a new decompiler engine.
To create an extension for JD-GUI, you need to follow these steps:
How to build JD-GUI with extensions
The first step is to build JD-GUI with your extensions included. To do this, you need to use Gradle, which is a build automation tool that JD-GUI uses. You also need to have Java Development Kit (JDK) installed on your system.
To build JD-GUI with extensions, follow these steps:
Clone or download the source code of JD-GUI from its GitHub repository:
Create a directory called extensions in the root directory of JD-GUI.
Copy your extension JAR files into the extensions directory.
Open a terminal or a command prompt and navigate to the root directory of JD-GUI.
Type the following command to build JD-GUI with your extensions:
gradle clean build
Wait for the build process to finish. You will see a message like this:
BUILD SUCCESSFUL in 1m 23s 8 actionable tasks: 8 executed
Find the new JAR file that contains JD-GUI and your extensions in the build/libs directory. It will have a name like jd-gui-x.y.z.jar.
Congratulations, you have successfully built JD-GUI with your extensions.
How to launch JD-GUI with extensions
The second step is to launch JD-GUI with your extensions enabled. To do this, you need to use the classpath option when running JD-GUI with Java. The classpath option allows you to specify additional JAR files or directories that contain classes that JD-GUI can use.
To launch JD-GUI with extensions, follow these steps:
Open a terminal or a command prompt and navigate to the directory where you have the new JAR file that contains JD-GUI and your extensions.
Type the following command to launch JD-GUI with your extensions:
java -jar -classpath jd-gui-x.y.z.jar;extensions/*.jar org.jd.gui.App
Wait for JD-GUI to start. You will see the same window as before, but with your extensions enabled.
Congratulations, you have successfully launched JD-GUI with your extensions.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you how to download and use JD-GUI, a standalone Java decompiler GUI that can decompile Java class files and JAR files and show you the reconstructed source code in a graphical interface. We have also shown you how to extend JD-GUI with custom extensions that can add new functionality or features to it.
We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you. If you want to learn more about JD-GUI, you can visit its official GitHub repository here: . There you can find more documentation, source code, issues, and contributions. You can also check out some of the existing extensions for JD-GUI here: . These extensions can enhance JD-GUI with features such as code formatting, code analysis, code completion, code generation, and more.
Thank you for reading this article and happy decompiling!
FAQs
Q: What is the license of JD-GUI?
A: JD-GUI is licensed under the GNU General Public License version 3 (GPLv3). This means that you can use, modify, and distribute it freely, as long as you comply with the terms of the license. You can find the full text of the license here: .
Q: What is the difference between JD-GUI and JD-Core?
A: JD-Core is the core library of JD-GUI that performs the actual decompilation of Java class files. JD-GUI is the graphical user interface that uses JD-Core to display the source code in a user-friendly way. You can use JD-Core as a standalone library or integrate it with other applications or IDEs. You can find more information about JD-Core here: .
Q: How can I report a bug or request a feature for JD-GUI?
A: You can report a bug or request a feature for JD-GUI by creating an issue on its GitHub repository here: . Please follow the issue template and provide as much detail as possible. You can also check if your issue has already been reported or resolved by searching the existing issues.
Q: How can I contribute to JD-GUI?
A: You can contribute to JD-GUI by submitting a pull request on its GitHub repository here: . Please follow the code style and conventions of the project and provide a clear description of your changes. You can also check if there are any open issues or pull requests that you can help with.
Q: How can I contact the author of JD-GUI?
A: You can contact the author of JD-GUI by sending an email to java.decompiler@gmail.com. You can also follow him on Twitter at @java_decompiler. He is always happy to hear from the users and the community of JD-GUI.
44f88ac181
Comments