Pete Freitag Pete Freitag

Dynamic Java Class Loading with ColdFusion

Updated on December 06, 2023
By Pete Freitag
coldfusionjava

Doug Hughes has posted a very clever technique for allowing you to run Java classes without adding them to your classpath. This means that people who build ColdFusion apps that include java classes can make them super easy to install.



java coldfusion classpath

Dynamic Java Class Loading with ColdFusion was first published on August 18, 2005.

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Comments

It's at least as simple (I'd say simpler) to include the compiled classes on the filesystem in the same directory as your CF files, and use a URLClassLoader to load them. Still no need for access to the classpath, it's just as easy to install the app, and no messing with having to encode your classes and all that rot (which makes building a lot easier).
by Barney on 08/18/2005 at 8:38:41 PM UTC
Barney, I don't disagree with you at all. But, consider my business: selling easy-to-use-but-still-somehow-powerful components to developers of all skill levels. I know, without a doubt, that you and Pete could easily handle moving some class files arround. I can't say that for everyone else. (I speak from experiance.) Besides, there's the "how'd they do that?!?" effect. Oh, and if you implement all your code in Java, but create a CF facade and imbed your java classes inside that CFC, you can prevent decompiling... sorta. :)

Anyhow, I'm not saying we should use it. I'm just saying it works.

Doug
by Doug Hughes on 08/20/2005 at 8:01:46 PM UTC