# javapackager/JavaPackager

:package: Gradle/Maven plugin to package Java applications as native Windows, MacOS, or Linux executables and create installers for them.

Repository: https://github.com/javapackager/JavaPackager
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/javapackager
Language: Java
License: GPL-3.0
License Family: copyleft
Topics: java, packager, maven-plugin, native, installer, debian-packages, rpm-packages, dmg, maven, distribution, javapackager, linux-executables, deb, rpm, native-windows, java-applications, pkg, msi, gradle-plugin, gradle
Last push: 2026-03-19T20:23:47+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 56/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 73, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 2747, "days_push": 167, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: none
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 1197, forks 147 (observed 2026-08-28T04:03:57.406981+00:00)

## What it is
JavaPackager is a hybrid Maven and Gradle plugin that packages Java applications as native Windows, macOS, or Linux executables and generates platform installers (MSI, DMG, DEB, RPM, PKG). It can optionally bundle a JRE so end users need no Java installation.

## Use cases
- package a java app as a native windows exe
- create a macos dmg installer for my java application
- build a deb or rpm package from a jar
- bundle a jre with my java app so users don't need java installed
- distribute a java desktop app to non-technical users
- add native packaging to my maven build
- generate linux executables from a gradle project

## When to choose
- you build a Java desktop application and want native executables and installers per platform
- you want a single Maven/Gradle plugin instead of chaining multiple packaging tools
- you need to ship a bundled JRE with your app

## When to avoid
- you only need a plain runnable jar or fat jar
- you target mobile or web deployment rather than desktop
- you need jlink/jpackage-only workflows with no extra installer generation
- your project requires a permissively licensed build tool (GPL-3.0)

## Facets
- artifact type: plugin
- maturity: maintenance
- function: build-tool, deployment, developer-tools
- domain: developer-tools, cross-platform, desktop-applications
- platform: jvm, windows, cross-platform
- tags: maven-plugin, gradle-plugin, installer-generation, native-executables, java-packaging, bundled-jre, deb, rpm, msi, dmg, linux, macos

## Member repositories
- javapackager/JavaPackager (main) score 56

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:57.406981+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T06:21:27.626841+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/javapackager/JavaPackager (fetched 2026-08-28T04:03:57.406981+00:00, sha 23f1dbf3d9d6)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.