Compile code using JavaFX 2.0 (using command line)

Update 2024

This answer was written before the release of modern JavaFX versions that separated JavaFX from most Java distributions. Therefore some information in the original answer is now obsolete (especially the deployment recommendation).

To use JavaFX from the command line for a modern JavaFX version, follow the instructions at openjfx.io.

Alternately, you can (currently) use Azul "JDK FX" or Liberica "Full JDK" (which both include JavaFX), in which case all you need to do is:

javac Fxservidor.java java Fxservidor 

similar to the steps for "Oracle Java 8" from the original answer.

Original Answer

Oracle Java 8

If you are using Oracle Java 8 or newer, as pointed out by cayhorstmann in his answer, JavaFX classes are now on the default runtime classpath for an Oracle Java implementation. You can just run javac and java on your program and the JavaFX classes will be found as expected, just like any other class in the JRE.

javac Fxservidor.java java Fxservidor 

OpenJDK 8

If you are using OpenJDK 8, you will (currently) need to build the JavaFX sources from the OpenJFX repository and place the resultant jfxrt.jar on your classpath similar to the description for Java 7 defined in this answer.

JavaFX 2.x / Java 7

You use the Java Compiler to compile JavaFX programs:

"%JDK_HOME%\bin\javac" -classpath "%JAVAFX_SDK_HOME%\rt\lib\jfxrt.jar" fxservidor.java 

Replace the JDK_HOME and JAVAFX_SDK_HOME placeholders with the paths to your installed JDK and JavaFX SDK respectively.

A sample windows batch script for JavaFX 2.x command line development and deployment packaging is provided here.

Here is a command I ran on my machine to compile your application (you need to adjust the classpath for your environment):

javac -classpath "\Program Files\Oracle\JavaFX 2.1 Runtime\lib\jfxrt.jar" Fxservidor.java 

And here is a command I used to run the compiled class:

java -classpath "\Program Files\Oracle\JavaFX 2.1 Runtime\lib\jfxrt.jar;." Fxservidor 

Note the ;. tokens used to append the current directory to the classpath of the java execution command in Windows (if using a Unix variant, then use :. instead of ;.).

Sample App

Here is a modified version of your program which will compile:

import javafx.application.Application; import javafx.event.ActionEvent; import javafx.event.EventHandler; import javafx.scene.Scene; import javafx.scene.control.Button; import javafx.scene.layout.StackPane; import javafx.stage.Stage; public class Fxservidor extends Application { public static void main(String[] args) { launch(args); } @Override public void start(Stage primaryStage) { primaryStage.setTitle("Hello World!"); Button btn = new Button(); btn.setText("Say 'Hello World'"); btn.setOnAction(new EventHandler<ActionEvent>() { @Override public void handle(ActionEvent event) { System.out.println("Hello World"); } }); StackPane root = new StackPane(); root.getChildren().add(btn); primaryStage.setScene(new Scene(root, 300, 250)); primaryStage.show(); } } 

Deployment Recommendation

If you are deploying applications to users, even with Java 8, it is recommended that you package applications using relevant packaging tools (e.g. JavaFX ant tasks, javafxpackager, javafx-maven-plugin or javafx-gradle-plugin).

If you just want to do some quick command line development and testing, of small programs, those additional packaging tools are not needed and you can just use the simple steps in this answer.

In macbook, osx, etc, you can compile:

javac -cp "/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.7.0_09.jdk/Contents/Home/jre/lib/jfxrt.jar" Fxservidor.java 

and run:

java -cp ".:/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.7.0_09.jdk/Contents/Home/jre/lib/jfxrt.jar" Fxservidor 

Note the .: instead of .;

javac -classpath "\Program Files\Oracle\JavaFX 2.1 Runtime\lib\jfxrt.jar" Fxservidor.java 

I ran the above command on Ubuntu Linux with JavaFX2.0 beta it compiled it's class files but when I tried to run it with this command it did not work.

java -classpath "\Program Files\Oracle\JavaFX 2.1 Runtime\lib\jfxrt.jar" Fxservidor 

This is the error message I get:

Error: Could not find or load main class Fxservidor

FWIW, in JDK 8, the JavaFX jar seems to be available without having to put it on the classpath.

path/to/jdk1.8.0-b96/bin/javac HelloWorld.java path/to/jdk1.8.0-b96/bin/java HelloWorld 

works like you'd expect.

Raw but simple solution is to put a copy of jfxrt.jar file into the .../jre7/lib/ext directory under your java installation.

Then, you should always have it available on your classpath.

Not recommended for distributing jfx apps, of course, but convenient for developer playing around...

(For explanation, see: http://docs.oracle.com/javase/tutorial/ext/basics/install.html)