How to create a windows service from java app

I've had some luck with the Java Service Wrapper

One more option is WinRun4J. This is a configurable java launcher that doubles as a windows service host (both 32 and 64 bit versions). It is open source and there are no restrictions on its use.

(full disclosure: I work on this project).

I think the Java Service Wrapper works well. Note that there are three ways to integrate your application. It sounds like option 1 will work best for you given that you don't want to change the code. The configuration file can get a little crazy, but just remember that (for option 1) the program you're starting and for which you'll be specifying arguments, is their helper program, which will then start your program. They have an example configuration file for this.

A pretty good comparison of different solutions is available at : http://yajsw.sourceforge.net/#mozTocId284533

Personally like launch4j

I've used JavaService before with good success. It hasn't been updated in a couple of years, but was pretty rock solid back when I used it.

I didn't like the licensing for the Java Service Wrapper. I went with ActiveState Perl to write a service that does the work.

I thought about writing a service in C#, but my time constraints were too tight.

I always just use sc.exe (see http://support.microsoft.com/kb/251192). It should be installed on XP from SP1, and if it's not in your flavor of Vista, you can download load it with the Vista resource kit.

I haven't done anything too complicated with Java, but using either a fully qualified command line argument (x:\java.exe ....) or creating a script with Ant to include depencies and set parameters works fine for me.

Another good option is FireDaemon. It's used by some big shops like NASA, IBM, etc; see their web site for a full list.

I am currently requiring this to run an Eclipse-based application but I need to set some variables first that is local to that application. sc.exe will only allow executables but not scripts so I turned to autoexnt.exe which is part of the Windows 2003 resource kit. It restricts the service to a single batch file but I only need one batch script to be converted into a service.

ciao!

I have been using jar2exe for last few years to run our Java applications as service on Windows. It provides an option to create an exe file which can be installed as Windows service.

It's possible to implement a Windows service in 100% Java code by combining the use of Foreign Memory and Linker API (previewing from JDK16 upwards) with OpenJDK jextract project to handle the Windows Service callbacks, and then use jpackage to produce a Windows EXE which can then be registered as a Windows Service.

See this example which outlines the work needed to implement a Windows service. All Windows service EXE must provide callbacks for the main entrypoint ServiceMain and Service Control Handler, and use API calls StartServiceCtrlDispatcherW, RegisterServiceCtrlHandlerExW and SetServiceStatus in Advapi.DLL.

The flow of above callbacks in Java with Foreign Memory structures are:

main()
    Must register ServiceMain using StartServiceCtrlDispatcherW
    Above call blocks until ServiceMain exits
        
void ServiceMain(int dwNumServicesArgs, MemoryAddress lpServiceArgVectors)
    Must register SvcCtrlHandler using RegisterServiceCtrlHandlerExW
    Use SetServiceStatus(SERVICE_START_PENDING)
    Initialise app
    Use SetServiceStatus(SERVICE_RUNNING)
    wait for app shutdown notification
    Use SetServiceStatus(SERVICE_STOPPED)

int SvcCtrlHandler(int dwControl, int dwEventType, MemoryAddress lpEventData, MemoryAddress lpContext)
    Must respond to service control events and report back using SetServiceStatus
    On receiving SERVICE_CONTROL_STOP reports SetServiceStatus(SERVICE_STOP_PENDING)
        then set app shutdown notification

Once finished the Java application, jpackage can create runtime+EXE which can then be installed and registered as a Windows Service. Run as Adminstrator (spaces after = are important):

 sc create YourJavaServiceName type= own binpath= "c:\Program Files\Your Release Dir\yourjavaservice.exe"