Find class files in a directory tree full of .jar's

with a free open source tool for the Windows command line, Mac OS X Terminal or Linux shell.

- download the free Swiss File Knife Base from Sourceforge.
- open the Windows CMD command line, Mac OS X Terminal or Linux shell.
- OS X : type mv sfk-mac-i686.exe sfk and chmod +x sfk then ./sfk
- Linux: type mv sfk-linux.exe sfk    and chmod +x sfk then ./sfk
  OS X and Linux syntax may differ, check the help within the tool.

imagine you are evaluating an open source package named "foobox", and try to compile an example source like this:

   javac org\foobox\examples\barmodel\HelloWorld.java

getting an error:

org\foobox\barmodel\Driver.java:38: package org.barbox.util does not exist

obviously, some .class files or .jars are missing in the classpath. but how do you find out instantly where "barbox" classes are located?

download the free swiss file knife, then type in the package root directory:

   sfk list -zip . >lslr

this creates an index text file "lslr", containing

all filenames in the current directory tree (and all subdirectories)
all filenames within all .jar and .zip files

now you can search this index in realtime, e.g. by

   sfk find lslr barbox util

creating output like this:

   external\BarBox-0.9-dev.jar\org/barbox/util/
   external\BarBox-0.9-dev.jar\org/barbox/util/BoundingBox.class

the result: classes with the package "org.barbox.util" are located within external\BarBox-0.9-dev.jar, so add this to your compilation classpath.

this is a first solution, but it can be done even more easily,
through creating an sfk alias called "gls!":

   sfk alias gls! = "sfk list -zip . >lslr & sfk find lslr"

(windows syntax. the linux shell may need adaptions concerning "!" and "&".)

gls stands for "grep the lslr index". (sfk will create a small batch file from the above, adding things like %1 %2 %3 automatically.) now, the first time you enter a new package's main directory, type for example

   gls! barbox util

which will

create the very detailed index file "lslr"
search instantly for the words "barbox" AND "util" accross this index

all in one step. But the next time you search further classes, you don't have to recreate the lslr index file, so create another alias:

   sfk alias gls = sfk find lslr

which simply searches instantly in the existing lslr.

instant interface listing with javap

staying with above example, if you know there is a BoundingBox.class, how do you turn the line

   external\BarBox-0.9-dev.jar\org/barbox/util/BoundingBox.class

(as extracted from lslr) into a command

javap -classpath external\BarBox-0.9-dev.jar org.barbox.util.BoundingBox

to get the interface of BoundingBox listed instantly? create another alias, "javap!" this way (windows syntax example; type all in one line):

   sfk alias javap! "sfk echo %1 +filt -rep \"_.jar\_.jar _\"
      -rep _/_._ -rep _.class__ -blocksep \" \" 
      -form \"javap -classpath $col1 $col2\" +run $text -yes"

then, if "external\BarBox-0.9-dev.jar\org/barbox/util/BoundingBox.class" is listed in the command shell, double-click on it (provided that QuickEdit and Insert is configured ON with your shell), press right button to copy to clipboard. type

   javap!

and press right mouse button again to paste the copied text:

javap! external\BarBox-0.9-dev.jar\org/barbox/util/BoundingBox.class

press ENTER, and the class interface should be listed.