rmic - The Java RMI Compiler

rmic generates stubs, skeletons, ties for remote objects using either the JRMP or IIOP protocols. Also generates OMG IDL.

SYNOPSIS

rmic [ options ] package-qualified-class-name(s)

DESCRIPTION

The rmic compiler generates stub, and skeleton class files (JRMP protocol), and stub and tie class files (IIOP protocol) for remote objects. These classes files are generated from the compiled Java programming language classes that contain remote object implementations. A remote object is one that implements the interface java.rmi.Remote. The classes named in the rmic command must be classes that have been compiled successfully with the javac command and must be fully package qualified. For example, running rmic on the class file name HelloImpl as shown here:

rmic hello.HelloImpl

creates the HelloImpl_Skel.class and HelloImpl_Stub.class files in the hello subdirectory (named for the class's package).

A skeleton for a remote object is a JRMP protocol server-side entity that contains a method which dispatches calls to the actual remote object implementation.

A tie for a remote object is a server-side entity similar to a skeleton, but which communicates with the client using the IIOP protocol.

A stub is a proxy for a remote object which is responsible for forwarding method invocations on remote objects to the server where the actual remote object implementation resides. A client's reference to a remote object, therefore, is actually a reference to a local stub. JRMP protocol stubs are generated by default. Use the -iiop option to generate stubs for the IIOP protocol.

The stub implements only the remote interfaces, not any local interfaces that the remote object also implements. Because a JRMP stub implements exactly the same set of remote interfaces as the remote object itself, a client can use the Java programming language's built-in operators for casting and type checking. For IIOP, the PortableRemoteObject.narrow method must be used.

OPTIONS

-bootclasspath path

Override location of bootstrap class files

-classpath path

Specifies the path rmic uses to look up classes. This option overrides the default or the CLASSPATH environment variable if it is set. Directories are separated by semi-colons. Thus the general format for path is:

.;<your_path>

For example:

.;C:\usr\local\java\classes

-d directory

Specifies the destination root directory for the generated class hierarchy. You can use this option to specify a destination directory for the stub, tie, and skeleton files. For example, the command

Windows:

% rmic -d C:\java\classes foo.MyClass

Solaris:

% rmic -d /java/classes foo.MyClass

would place the stub and skeleton classes derived from MyClass into the directory C:\java\classes\foo. If the -d option is not specified, the default behavior is as if "-d ." were specified: the package hierarchy of the target class is created in the current directory, and stub/tie/skeleton files are placed within it. Note that in previous versions of rmic, if -d was not specified the package hierarchy was not created, and the output files were placed directly in the current directory.
 

-depend

Makes the compiler consider recompiling classes which are referenced from other classes. Normally, it only recompiles missing or out-of-date classes that are referred to from source code.

-extdirs path

Override location of installed extensions

-g

Enables generation of debugging tables. Debugging tables contain information about line numbers and local variables - information used by Java debugging tools. By default, only line numbers are generated.

-idl

Causes rmic to generate OMG IDL for the classes specified and any classes referenced. IDL provides a purely declarative, programming language-independent way of specifying an object's API. The IDL is used as a specification for methods and data that can be written in and invoked from any language that provides CORBA bindings. This includes Java and C++ among others. See the Java Language to IDL Mapping (OMG) document for a complete description.

When the -idl option is used, other options also include:

-always or -alwaysgenerate

Forces re-generation even when existing stubs/ties/IDL are newer than the input class.

-factory

Uses factory keyword in generated IDL.

-idlModule  fromJavaPackage[.class]  toIDLModule

Specifies IDLEntity package mapping. For example:  -idlModule foo.bar my::real::idlmod.

-idlFile  fromJavaPackage[.class]  toIDLFile

Specifies IDLEntity file mapping. For example:  -idlFile test.pkg.X TEST16.idl. 

-iiop

Causes rmic to generate IIOP stub and tie classes, rather than JRMP stub and skeleton classes. A stub class is a local proxy for a remote object and is used by clients to send calls to a server. Each remote interface requires a stub class, which implements that remote interface. A client's reference to a remote object is actually a reference to a stub. Tie classes are used on the server side to process incoming calls, and dispatch the calls to the proper implementation class. Each implementation class requires a tie class.

Invoking rmic with the -iiop generates stubs and ties that conform to this naming convention:

_<implementationName>_stub.class


_<interfaceName>_tie.class

When the -iiop option is used, other options also include:

-always or -alwaysgenerate

Forces re-generation even when existing stubs/ties/IDL are newer than the input class.

-nolocalstubs

Do not create stubs optimized for same-process clients and servers.

-noValueMethods

Must be used with the -idl option. Prevents addition of valuetype methods and initializers to emitted IDL. These methods and initializers are optional for valuetypes, and are generated unless the -noValueMethods option is specified when using the -idl option.

-poa

Changes the inheritance from org.omg.CORBA_2_3.portable.ObjectImpl to org.omg.PortableServer.Servant.

The PortableServer module for the Portable Object Adapter (POA) defines the native Servant type. In the Java programming language, the Servant type is mapped to the Java org.omg.PortableServer.Servant class. It serves as the base class for all POA servant implementations and provides a number of methods that may be invoked by the application programmer, as well as methods which are invoked by the POA itself and may be overridden by the user to control aspects of servant behavior. Based on the OMG IDL to Java Language Mapping Specification, CORBA V 2.3.1 ptc/00-01-08.pdf.

-J

Used in conjunction with any java option, it passes the option following the -J (no spaces between the -J and the option) on to the java interpreter.

-keep or -keepgenerated

Retains the generated .java source files for the stubs and skeletons and writes them to the same directory as the .class files.

-nowarn

Turns off warnings. If used the compiler does not print out any warnings.

-vcompat

(default) Creates stubs and skeletons compatible with both 1.1 and 1.2 JRMP stub protocol versions.

-verbose

Causes the compiler and linker to print out messages about what classes are being compiled and what class files are being loaded.

-v1.1

Create stubs and skeletons for 1.1 JRMP stub protocol version.

-v1.2

Create stubs for 1.2 JRMP stub protocol version only.

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

CLASSPATH

Used to provide the system a path to user-defined classes. Directories are separated by colons on UNIX and Macintosh and by semicolons on Win95. For example,

.;C:\usr\local\java\classes

SEE ALSO

java, javac, CLASSPATH

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