Running Java Programs on Lab Machines #

Transferring your Program to the Lab Machines #

Firstly, transfer all the required .java and input files to the lab machines using an SFTP application of your choice. Put all of these files together in the same directory. I’d recommend making a directory just for these files because once we compile your program, it may generate a lot of .class files, and we wouldn’t want to clutter up another directory. Now, connect to a lab machine using ssh and navigate to this directory using cd.

Compiling Your Program #

Once we are in the right directory, issue an ls command. You should be able to see all of your .java and input files.

Now, make sure you know the name of the class which has your main method. For this example, my main method is in the NameSurfer class, which is in the NameSurfer.java file. So, to compile all of the classes the main method in the NameSurfer class will require, run this command:

javac <main Method Class Name>.java

If your code is free of errors and warnings, you shouldn’t see any output.

Now, if you issue another ls command, you will be able to see all of the .class files as a result of the compilation.

Running Your Java Program #

To run your program, you will once again need to know the name of the class which contains your main method. In this example, it is once again NameSurfer. To run your program with this main method, issue the java command:

java <main Method Class Name>

Notice that this command’s name, java does not end with a “c” and you should not include any file extensions to the class name.

If everything was successful, you should be running your Java program on a lab machine!

Make sure that your program works as intended in this environment since this is how TAs will be grading your assignments.