When are two classes not the same? When they're loaded by different class loaders. This is just one of many curious side effects of Java's class-loading system. Binildas Christudas shows how different class loaders relate to one another and how (and why)
Tutorial Details:
Class loading is one of the most powerful mechanisms provided by the Java language specification. Even though the internals of class loading falls under the "advanced topics" heading, all Java programmers should know how the mechanism works and what can be done with it to suit their needs. This can save time that would otherwise have been spent debugging ClassNotFoundException, ClassCastException, etc.
This article starts from the basics, such as the difference between code and data, and how they are related to form an instance or object. Then it looks into the mechanism of loading code into the JVM with the help of class loaders, and the main type of class loaders available in Java. The article then looks into the internals of class loaders, where we cover using the basic algorithm (or probing), followed by class loaders before it loads a class. The next section of the article uses code examples to demonstrate the necessity for developers to extend and develop their own class loaders. This is followed by explanation on writing your own class loaders and how to use them to make a generic task-execution engine that can be used to load the code supplied by any remote client, define it in the JVM, and instantiate and then execute it. The article concludes with references to J2EE-specific components where custom class loading schemas becomes the norm.
classworlds
classworlds
classworlds is a framework for container developers who require complex manipulation of Java\'s ClassLoaders. Java\'s native ClassLoader mechanims and classes can cause much headache and confusion for certain types of application developers.
Inside Class Loaders: Debugging
Inside Class Loaders: Debugging
This article will show how to solve class-loading problems and to overcome some debugging limitations of the JDK class loaders.
Wi.Ser (WidgetServer) unified rich client framework
Wi.Ser is a Java/XML server-side GUI-framework which enables an application to run as either a monolithic Swing application, a thin-client/server Swing application, or as a Web application without any change!
Using JConsole to Monitor Applications
JConsole is the Java Monitoring and Management Console, a new graphical tool shipped in J2SE JDK 5.0. This article describes how JConsole can be used to observe information about an application running on the Java platform, with an overview of the J2SE 5.
Internals of Java Class Loading
When are two classes not the same? When they're loaded by different class loaders. This is just one of many curious side effects of Java's class-loading system. Binildas Christudas shows how different class loaders relate to one another and how (and why)
Revolutionary RMI: Dynamic
class loading
and behavior
objects - JavaWorld - December 1998