DESERVE

Is it possible to just write a Java program without using the Runtime behind it?

I.E. compile it straight to Machine Code like you would a C++ program?
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ReggaetonKing

GNU developed something called GCJ. It compiles to either byte or machine code. Haven't used it myself but I have it installed just in case I ever wanted to play around with it.

Check it out.
http://gcc.gnu.org/java/

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Jimbo

Yeah, I've heard about some Java to native compilers but I don't remember hearing much of anything good about them.

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Grich

I've used it once. It's like any other compiler. It does compile to machine code. I have heard from others that it does have some limits.

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mrynit

you could try looking at this http://mcujavasource.sourceforge.net/index.xhtml

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Harakim

They are also working on a Java Kernel that will interpret Java applications, but will be rolled into an executable with your class files. It is supposed to add about as much overhead as a windows executable. We will see how this ends up when Java 7 comes out.

lectricpharaoh

Sounds promising, except that much of the overhead probably from the necessary classes that need to be included from the Java libraries. Since there is likely to be a lot of duplicate class usage across applications- for example, two different applications using Swing will each have their own copy of the classes- this will be a lot of wasted space. It's one of the big reasons dynamic linking can be an advantage. The way around this, of course, is to have everyone download a set of Java classes, but then we're back to square one. It also assumes that the Java classes themselves are platform independent, and I'm not sure they are; it's only the interface that's guaranteed to be consistent.

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Harakim

Most of the java classes are cross-platform. They have made a movement towards this recently. However, some classes must be implemented for a native operating system (sockets and windows come to mind). On the other hand, if you are distributing an executable, it isn't going to be cross platform anyway.

null_ptr0

The GCC, GNU Compiler Collection, contains a java compiler, that has the ability to compile java source files into executable files containing the bytes of assembler instructions; or 'machine code'.