Package JVM applications into self-contained binaries. No JVM installation required to run the output.
jbundle transforms JVM applications (Clojure, Java, Kotlin, Scala, Groovy) into self-contained binaries. Think of it as the Go/Rust distribution experience for the JVM world.
# Build your app
jbundle build --input ./my-app --output ./dist/my-app
# Run anywhere (no Java required)
./dist/my-appThe conventional deployment approach requires both a JAR and a JVM on the target machine. GraalVM native-image is an alternative, but presents challenges: slow compilations, complex reflection configuration, and library incompatibilities.
jbundle offers a practical solution: bundle a minimal JVM runtime with your uberjar into a single executable. The result is a single file, no external dependencies, with full JVM compatibility.
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Single binary | One file to distribute, like Go or Rust |
| No JVM required | Runtime is bundled inside the binary |
| Fast startup | AppCDS + profiles achieve ~200-350ms startup |
| Full compatibility | Everything that works on JVM works here |
| Multiple languages | Clojure, Java, Kotlin, Scala, Groovy |
| Smart caching | Layers cached independently by content hash |
detect → build uberjar → download JDK → jdeps → jlink → pack
- Detect — Identifies your build system (deps.edn, project.clj, pom.xml, build.gradle)
- Build — Runs the appropriate build command to create an uberjar
- Download JDK — Fetches JDK from Adoptium (cached locally)
- Analyze — Uses jdeps to detect required modules
- Minimize — Creates minimal runtime with jlink (~30-50 MB)
- Package — Bundles everything into a single executable
- Installation — Get jbundle on your system
- Quick Start — Build your first binary
- Configuration — Customize with
jbundle.toml