# Native distributions & local execution
## What is covered
In this tutorial, we'll show you how to create native distributions (installers/packages) for all the supported systems.
We will also demonstrate how to run an application locally with the same settings as for distributions.
## Gradle plugin
`org.jetbrains.compose` Gradle plugin simplifies the packaging of applications into native distributions and running an application locally.
Currently, the plugin uses [jpackage ](https://openjdk.java.net/jeps/343 ) for packaging distributable applications.
Distributable applications are self-contained, installable binaries which include all the Java runtime components they need,
without requiring an installed JDK on the target system.
[Jlink ](https://openjdk.java.net/jeps/282 ) will take care of bundling only the necessary Java Modules in
the distributable package to minimize package size,
but you must still configure the Gradle plugin to tell it which modules you need
(see the `Configuring included JDK modules` section).
## Basic usage
The basic unit of configuration in the plugin is an `application` .
An `application` defines a shared configuration for a set of final binaries.
In other words, an `application` in DSL allows you to pack a bunch of files,
together with a JDK distribution, into a set of compressed binary installers
in various formats (`.dmg`, `.deb` , `.msi` , `.exe` , etc).
``` kotlin
import org.jetbrains.compose.compose
import org.jetbrains.compose.desktop.application.dsl.TargetFormat
plugins {
kotlin("jvm")
id("org.jetbrains.compose")
}
dependencies {
implementation(compose.desktop.currentOS)
}
compose.desktop {
application {
mainClass = "example.MainKt"
nativeDistributions {
targetFormats(TargetFormat.Dmg, TargetFormat.Msi, TargetFormat.Deb)
}
}
}
```
The plugin creates the following tasks:
* `package<FormatName>` (e.g. `packageDmg` or `packageMsi` ) are used for packaging the app into the corresponding format.
Note, that there is no cross-compilation support available at the moment,
so the formats can only be built using the specific OS (e.g. to build `.dmg` you have to use macOS).
Tasks that are not compatible with the current OS are skipped by default.
* `package` is a [lifecycle ](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/more_about_tasks.html#sec:lifecycle_tasks ) task,
aggregating all package tasks for an application.
* `packageUberJarForCurrentOS` is used to create a single jar file, containing all dependencies for current OS.
The task is available starting from the M2 release.
The task expects `compose.desktop.currentOS` to be used as a `compile` /`implementation`/`runtime` dependency.
* `run` is used to run an app locally. You need to define a `mainClass` — an fq-name of a class,
containing the `main` function.
Note, that `run` starts a non-packaged JVM application with full runtime.
This is faster and easier to debug, than creating a compact binary image with minified runtime.
To run a final binary image, use `runDistributable` instead.
* `createDistributable` is used to create a prepackaged application image a final application image without creating an installer.
* `runDistributable` is used to run a prepackaged application image.
Note, that the tasks are created only if the `application` block/property is used in a script.
After a build, output binaries can be found in `${project.buildDir}/compose/binaries` .
## Configuring included JDK modules
The Gradle plugin uses [jlink ](https://openjdk.java.net/jeps/282 ) to minimize a distributable size by
including only necessary JDK modules.
At this time, the Gradle plugin does not automatically determine necessary JDK Modules.
Failure to provide the necessary modules will not cause compilation issues,
but will lead to `ClassNotFoundException` at runtime.
If you encounter `ClassNotFoundException` when running a packaged application or
`runDistributable` task, you can include additional JDK modules using
`modules` DSL method (see example below).
You can determine, which modules are necessary either by hand or by running
`suggestModules` task. `suggestModules` uses the [jdeps ](https://docs.oracle.com/javase/9/tools/jdeps.htm )
static analysis tool to determine possible missing modules. Note, that the output of the tool
might be incomplete or list unnecessary modules.
If a distributable size is not critical, you may simply include all runtime modules as an alternative
by using `includeAllModules` DSL property.
``` kotlin
compose.desktop {
application {
nativeDistributions {
modules("java.sql")
// alternatively: includeAllModules = true
}
}
}
```
## Available formats
The following formats available for the supported operating systems:
* macOS — `.dmg` (`TargetFormat.Dmg`), `.pkg` (`TargetFormat.Pkg`)
* Windows — `.exe` (`TargetFormat.Exe`), `.msi` (`TargetFormat.Msi`)
* Linux — `.deb` (`TargetFormat.Deb`), `.rpm` (`TargetFormat.Rpm`)
## Signing & notarization on macOS
By default, Apple does not allow users to execute unsigned applications downloaded from the internet. Users attempting
to run such applications will be faced with an error like this:
See [our tutorial ](/tutorials/Signing_and_notarization_on_macOS/README.md )
on how to sign and notarize your application.
## Specifying package version
You must specify a package version for native distribution packages.
You can use the following DSL properties (in order of descending priority):
* `nativeDistributions.<os>.<packageFormat>PackageVersion` specifies a version for a single package format;
* `nativeDistributions.<os>.packageVersion` specifies a version for a single target OS;
* `nativeDistributions.packageVersion` specifies a version for all packages;
``` kotlin
compose.desktop {
application {
nativeDistributions {
// a version for all distributables
packageVersion = "..."
linux {
// a version for all Linux distributables
packageVersion = "..."
// a version only for the deb package
debVersion = "..."
// a version only for the rpm package
rpmVersion = "..."
}
macOS {
// a version for all macOS distributables
packageVersion = "..."
// a version only for the dmg package
dmgVersion = "..."
// a version only for the pkg package
pkgVersion = "..."
}
windows {
// a version for all Windows distributables
packageVersion = "..."
// a version only for the msi package
msiVersion = "..."
// a version only for the exe package
exeVersion = "..."
}
}
}
}
```
Versions must follow the rules:
* For `dmg` and `pkg` :
* The format is `MAJOR[.MINOR][.PATCH]` , where:
* `MAJOR` is an integer > 0;
* `MINOR` is an optional non-negative integer;
* `PATCH` is an optional non-negative integer;
* For `msi` and `exe` :
* The format is `MAJOR.MINOR.BUILD` , where:
* `MAJOR` is a non-negative integer with a maximum value of 255;
* `MINOR` is a non-negative integer with a maximum value of 255;
* `BUILD` is a non-negative integer with a maximum value of 65535;
* For `deb` :
* The format is `[EPOCH:]UPSTREAM_VERSION[-DEBIAN_REVISION]` , where:
* `EPOCH` is an optional non-negative integer;
* `UPSTREAM_VERSION`
* may contain only alphanumerics and the characters `.` , `+` , `-` , `~` ;
* must start with a digit;
* `DEBIAN_REVISION`
* is optional;
* may contain only alphanumerics and the characters `.` , `+` , `~` ;
* See [Debian documentation ](https://www.debian.org/doc/debian-policy/ch-controlfields.html#version ) for more details;
* For `rpm` :
* A version must not contain the `-` (dash) character.
## Customizing JDK version
The plugin uses `jpackage` , for which you should be using at least [JDK 15 ](https://openjdk.java.net/projects/jdk/15/ ).
Make sure you meet at least one of the following requirements:
* `JAVA_HOME` environment variable points to the compatible JDK version.
* `javaHome` is set via DSL:
``` kotlin
compose.desktop {
application {
javaHome = System.getenv("JDK_15")
}
}
```
## Customizing output dir
``` kotlin
compose.desktop {
application {
nativeDistributions {
outputBaseDir.set(project.buildDir.resolve("customOutputDir"))
}
}
}
```
## Customizing launcher
The following properties are available for customizing the application startup:
* `mainClass` — a fully-qualified name of a class, containing the main method;
* `args` — arguments for the application's main method;
* `jvmArgs` — arguments for the application's JVM.
``` kotlin
compose.desktop {
application {
mainClass = "MainKt"
jvmArgs += listOf("-Xmx2G")
args += listOf("-customArgument")
}
}
```
## Customizing metadata
The following properties are available in the `nativeDistributions` DSL block:
* `packageName` — application's name (default value: Gradle project's [name ](https://docs.gradle.org/current/javadoc/org/gradle/api/Project.html#getName-- ));
* `version` — application's version (default value: Gradle project's [version ](https://docs.gradle.org/current/javadoc/org/gradle/api/Project.html#getVersion-- ));
* `description` — application's description (default value: none);
* `copyright` — application's copyright (default value: none);
* `vendor` — application's vendor (default value: none).
``` kotlin
compose.desktop {
application {
nativeDistributions {
packageName = "ExampleApp"
version = "0.1-SNAPSHOT"
description = "Compose Example App"
copyright = "© 2020 My Name. All rights reserved."
vendor = "Example vendor"
}
}
}
```
## Customizing content
The plugin can configure itself, when either `org.jetbrains.kotlin.jvm` or `org.jetbrains.kotlin.multiplatform` plugins
are used.
* With `org.jetbrains.kotlin.jvm` the plugin includes content from the `main` [source set ](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/java_plugin.html#source_sets ).
* With `org.jetbrains.kotlin.multiplatform` the plugin includes content a single [jvm target ](https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/mpp-dsl-reference.html#targets ).
The default configuration is disabled if multiple JVM targets are defined. In this case, the plugin should be configured
manually, or a single target should be specified (see below).
If the default configuration is ambiguous or not sufficient, the plugin can be configured:
* Using a Gradle [source set ](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/java_plugin.html#source_sets )
``` kotlin
plugins {
kotlin("jvm")
id("org.jetbrains.compose")
}
val customSourceSet = sourceSets.create("customSourceSet")
compose.desktop {
application {
from(customSourceSet)
}
}
```
* Using a Kotlin [JVM target ](https://kotlinlang.org/docs/reference/mpp-dsl-reference.html#targets ):
``` kotlin
plugins {
kotlin("multiplatform")
id("org.jetbrains.compose")
}
kotlin {
jvm("customJvmTarget") {}
}
compose.desktop {
application {
from(kotlin.targets["customJvmTarget"])
}
}
```
* manually:
* `disableDefaultConfiguration` can be used to disable the default configuration;
* `dependsOn` can be used to add task dependencies to all plugin's tasks;
* `fromFiles` can be used to specify files to include;
* `mainJar` file property can be specified to point to a jar, containing a main class.
``` kotlin
compose.desktop {
application {
disableDefaultConfiguration()
fromFiles(project.fileTree("libs/") { include("**/*.jar") })
mainJar.set(project.file("main.jar"))
dependsOn("mainJarTask")
}
}
```
## Platform-specific options
Platform-specific options should be set using the corresponding DSL blocks:
``` kotlin
compose.desktop {
application {
nativeDistributions {
macOS {
// macOS specific options
}
windows {
// Windows specific options
}
linux {
// Linux specific options
}
}
}
}
```
The following platform-specific options are available
(the usage of non-documented properties **is not recommended** ):
* All platforms:
* `iconFile.set(File("PATH_TO_ICON"))` — a path to a platform-specific icon for the application.
(see the section `App icon` for details);
* `packageVersion = "1.0.0"` — a platform-specific package version
(see the section `Specifying package version` for details);
* `installationPath = "PATH_TO_INSTALL_DIR"` — an absolute or relative path to the default installation directory;
* On Windows `dirChooser = true` may be used to enable customizing the path during installation.
* Linux:
* `packageName = "custom-package-name"` overrides the default application name;
* `debMaintainer = "maintainer@example.com"` — an email of the deb package's maintainer;
* `menuGroup = "my-example-menu-group"` — a menu group for the application;
* `appRelease = "1"` — a release value for the rpm package, or a revision value for the deb package;
* `appCategory = "CATEGORY"` — a group value for the rpm package, or a section value for the deb package;
* `rpmLicenseType = "TYPE_OF_LICENSE"` — a type of license for the rpm package;
* `debPackageVersion = "DEB_VERSION"` — a deb-specific package version
(see the section `Specifying package version` for details);
* `rpmPackageVersion = "RPM_VERSION"` — a rpm-specific package version
(see the section `Specifying package version` for details);
* macOS:
* `bundleID` — a unique application identifier;
* May only contain alphanumeric characters (`A-Z`,`a-z`,`0-9`), hyphen (`-`) and period (`.`) characters;
* Use of a reverse DNS notation (e.g. `com.mycompany.myapp` ) is recommended;
* `packageName` — a name of the application;
* `dockName` — a name of the application displayed in the menu bar, the "About < App > " menu item, in the dock, etc.
Equals to `packageName` by default.
* `signing` and `notarization` — see
[the corresponding tutorial ](/tutorials/Signing_and_notarization_on_macOS/README.md )
for details;
* `dmgPackageVersion = "DMG_VERSION"` — a dmg-specific package version
(see the section `Specifying package version` for details);
* `pkgPackageVersion = "PKG_VERSION"` — a pkg-specific package version
(see the section `Specifying package version` for details);
* Windows:
* `console = true` adds a console launcher for the application;
* `dirChooser = true` enables customizing the installation path during installation;
* `perUserInstall = true` enables installing the application on a per-user basis
* `menuGroup = "start-menu-group"` adds the application to the specified Start menu group;
* `upgradeUuid = "UUID"` — a unique ID, which enables users to update an app via installer,
when an updated version is newer, than an installed version. The value must remain constant for a single application.
See [the link ](https://wixtoolset.org/documentation/manual/v3/howtos/general/generate_guids.html )
for details on generating a UUID.
* `msiPackageVersion = "MSI_VERSION"` — a msi-specific package version
(see the section `Specifying package version` for details);
* `exePackageVersion = "EXE_VERSION"` — a pkg-specific package version
(see the section `Specifying package version` for details);
## App icon
The app icon needs to be provided in OS-specific formats:
* `.icns` for macOS;
* `.ico` for Windows;
* `.png` for Linux.
``` kotlin
compose.desktop {
application {
nativeDistributions {
macOS {
iconFile.set(project.file("icon.icns"))
}
windows {
iconFile.set(project.file("icon.ico"))
}
linux {
iconFile.set(project.file("icon.png"))
}
}
}
}
```
