compose-jb/tutorials/Native_distributions_and_local_execution/README.md

# 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.

## Desktop application Gradle plugin

`org.jetbrains.compose.desktop.application` 
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 self-contained applications.

## 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")
    id("org.jetbrains.compose.desktop.application")
}

dependencies {
    implementation(compose.desktop.all)
}

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.
* `run` is used to run an app locally. You need to define a `mainClass` — an fq-name of a class, 
containing the `main` function.

After a build, output binaries can be found in `${project.buildDir}/compose/binaries`.

## 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`)

## Customizing JDK version

The plugin uses `jpackage`, which is available since [JDK 14](https://openjdk.java.net/projects/jdk/14/).
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_14")
    }
}
``` 

## 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 = project.file("LICENSE.txt").readText()
            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.desktop.application")
} 

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.desktop.application")
} 

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")
    }
}
```

## 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 {
        macOS {
            iconFile.set(project.file("icon.icns"))
        }
        windows {
            iconFile.set(project.file("icon.ico"))
        }
        linux {
            iconFile.set(project.file("icon.png"))
        }
    }
}
```