Excelsior JET Frequently Asked Questions

For answers to technical questions, check out the Knowledge Base and Excelsior JET Technical FAQ.

General Information

Excelsior JET is a toolkit and complete runtime environment for acceleration, protection, and deployment of Java SE applications.

What Excelsior JET is not?

Excelsior JET is not a packager of Java applications into Windows EXE/Linux binaries. It really compiles your Java class files into native x86 (IA-32) instructions. The resulting executables need the Excelsior JET Runtime to run, but not the Sun JRE.

If all you need is simple deployment of your Java application, check out the article Convert Java to EXE: Why, When, When Not and How.

Who should use Excelsior JET?

Excelsior JET is intended to be used by developers and development teams creating client- and server-side software in the Java programming language, (primarily) targeting Microsoft Windows and/or Linux on the x86 (IA-32) platform, and interested in one or more of the following:

Improvement of application performance
Application startup time reduction
Improvement of application scalability (e.g. handling more simultaneous connections on the same hardware)
Application memory footprint reduction
Protection of application code against reverse engineering
Easy native-style application deployment
Reduction of application download size and disk footprint
Distribution of Java applications in the form of Windows EXE and DLL files (typical requirement in Microsoft-only shops)

How does it work from the technical point of view?

Excelsior JET consists principally of the following components:

Excelsior JET Optimizer is an ahead-of-time (AOT) compiler that translates your application's classes and jars into optimized x86 (IA-32) code, producing a conventional native executable for Windows or Linux. The resulting executable starts and works faster and is as hard to decompile as if your application was written in C++.

Excelsior JET Runtime is a complete Java Virtual Machine that implements versions 5 and 6 of the Java SE platform. In particular, the Runtime includes the Java SE API licensed from Sun Microsystems and contains a dynamic (just-in-time) compiler that processes Java classes loaded at runtime that were not precompiled. The key difference from other JVMs is that the Excelsior JET Runtime can work with both Java classes and native executables produced by Excelsior JET Optimizer. So, for example, your optimized program will be able to load third-party plug-ins supplied in the form of jar files.

Excelsior JET Installation Toolkit enables you to prepare an installation package that includes your optimized Java application and the Excelsior JET Runtime engine. You can use the bundled Excelsior Installer or another installation tool of your choice. No extra software, such as the JRE, is required on end-user machines.

See the Technology Overview for details.

What editions of Excelsior JET are available?

Excelsior JET for desktop/server platforms comes in three Editions:

Excelsior JET, Standard Edition provides the minimum set of features required for compiling Java applications to native code and packaging them for deployment.

Excelsior JET, Professional Edition is targeted at the professional developer requiring maximum application performance, reduced download size, and other advanced features.

Excelsior JET, Enterprise Edition adds support for hi-end multiprocessor servers.

Excelsior JET, Embedded Edition implements the Java SE for Embedded technology. It has most features of the Professional Edition and enables you to target embedded Windows and Linux platforms.

What are the differences between Editions?

If your Java applications are designed to run on general purpose desktop computers and/or servers, check out the Feature Matrix for side by side comparison of the respective Editions.

You have to use Excelsior JET Embedded if you need to deploy your optimized applications to devices and embedded systems.

What is new in Excelsior JET 6.0?

The tagline of Excelsior JET 6.0 release is support for Java SE 6 and Windows Vista.

Other improvements are higher performance of optimized Java applications and implementation of a few customer feature requests. For details, please visit the What's New page.

On which system configurations Excelsior JET 6.0 is supported?

Excelsior JET 6.0 for Windows has passed the Java Compatibility Kit (JCK) testsuites for Java SE 5 and 6 on Windows 2000 Professional (SP4), Windows 2000 Server (SP4), Windows XP Professional (SP1 and SP2), Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista, running on x86 (IA-32) or compatible hardware.

Excelsior JET 6.0 for Linux has passed the JCKs for Java SE 5 and 6 on RedHat Enterprise Linux AS 3.0, 4.0, and 5.0, and on SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9, running on x86 (IA-32) or compatible hardware.

More operating system variants will be used for conducting the compliance testing in the future.

Support for other operating system flavors, distributions, and versions can be provided either under terms or your Support Contract or on a consultancy basis, at Excelsior's sole discretion.

Please refer to the System Requirements section for up-to-date information on compliance testing and platform support.

What environments Excelsior JET is planned to support in the future?

Right now, we are concentrated on supporting Windows and Linux on the x86 CPU architecture. Ports to other CPUs and operating systems may follow if there is enough demand. You may express your interest via the Feature Request Form.

What impact Excelsior JET has on my development cycle?

You continue using your favorite tools for the most important stages: design, coding, debugging, and testing, without any changes. Once your application works stable in the Java environment you use for development, such as the Sun JRE, you optimize and package your program with Excelsior JET, conduct quality assurance testing and deploy it to enduser systems.

Can I use it to compile my application for embedded systems?

Yes, you can. Excelsior JET Embedded enables you to use the Java SE technology in embedded systems.

Java Standards

What Java versions does Excelsior JET support?

Excelsior JET 6.0 has passed the Sun's Java Compatibility Kit test suites for Java Standard Edition, versions 5 and 6. The microversions supported out-of-the box are Java SE 6 Update 3 (1.6.0_03) and J2SE 5.0 Update 13 (1.5.0_13). Add-ons supporting newer microversions are added regularly.

IMPORTANT: Excelsior JET 4.8 was the last version with support for J2SE 1.4.2. It is still available for purchase; email our Sales Dept. if you are interested in evaluating Excelsior Jet 4.8 for the optimization and packaging of your J2SE 1.4.2 application.

Once a Java technology update has been released, how much time would it take you to update Excelsior JET?

Our past experience shows that update and testing should not take us more than a few weeks. Support for the latest Java updates is added through add-ons.

Does Excelsior JET support compilation of applications targeting Java SE prior to 1.4.2?

For technical reasons, Excelsior JET is unable to interoperate with Java SE prior to 1.3. Support for Java SE versions 1.3.0 to 1.4.1 is not provided due to the demand being insufficient to cover the licensing costs.

Licensing

What are the licensing schemes for Excelsior JET?

Desktop/server Editions:

Development License: Excelsior JET 6.0 is licensed on a per developer seat basis. One license is good for two computers if they are not used simultaneously. Volume discounts and academic prices are available.

There are no commercial site or corporate licenses available. Academic institutions may consider purchasing an Academic Site License.

Runtime License: Excelsior JET Runtime may be redistributed as part of your application installed onto general purpose desktop computers and server at no extra charge.

Embedded Edition:

Use of the Java SE technology that is part of Excelsior JET Runtime in embedded systems is subject to Sun royalties. Therefore Excelsior JET Embedded pricing and licensing are very different.

What are the costs associated with Excelsior JET?

Desktop/server Editions:

Development

Excelsior JET 6.0, Standard, Professional, and Enterprise Edition are priced at $1,200, $2,300, and $4,500 per seat, respectively. The costs include one year of Standard Support and upgrades.

Special pricing is offered to microISVs, small early stage startups, and similar businesses until July 31st, 2008.

The academic price of a single-platform license for the Professional Edition is $100. Academic Site Licenses are also available.

25% discount applies if you buy Windows and Linux versions together.

Runtime

Production and redistribution use of Excelsior JET Runtime on general purpose desktop computers and servers are royalty-free.

Please visit Excelsior Web Store or contact our Sales Dept. for detailed information on product pricing.

Embedded Edition:

Use of the Excelsior JET Runtime in devices other than general purpose desktop computers and servers is subject to royalty payment based on the number of units or concurrent users.

Please consult this page and/or contact our Sales Dept. for more information.

How many Excelsior JET licenses do I need?

First of all, one development license is good for two computers if they are not used simultaneously. For instance, you can make a secondary installation of Excelsior JET on your home computer or laptop, provided your main development workstation is not shared with other people and not used as a night build server.

Then, unlike other tools such as an IDE, Excelsior JET is not intended to be used continuously by all developers, so you do not need to install it on every developer's system. We recommend you to purchase a few licenses for each group of developers, and install them on the most powerful systems, or even on separate build servers, so that test builds could be performed overnight.

Site-wide and organization-wide licensing is not available, except for the Academic Site Licensing Program.

Where can I buy Excelsior JET?

You can purchase Excelsior JET online at the list price through our Web Store. You can place your order online or via fax, postal mail, purchase order, or phone (toll-free in the US).

Excelsior JET is also available from resellers.

The purchase procedure for Excelsior JET Embedded is more complicated. Please consult this page and/or contact our Sales Dept. for more information.

Are there volume discounts for Excelsior JET?

Yes, volume pricing is available from Excelsior and through authorized resellers.

Can I download an evaluation version?

Yes, you may download a fully functional evaluation copy.

What are the limitations of the evaluation version?

The only limitations of Excelsior JET 6.0 Evaluation Package are expiration on a fixed date and omission of the printable documentation.

Can I purchase a maintenance agreement?

Yes. An annual Support Contract, included with each purchase of Excelsior JET, entitles you to receive free upgrades. Upon its termination, you can renew the contract.

Service and Technical Support

How do I get help?

Please visit the Excelsior JET Technical Support section.

What are the system requirements for Excelsior JET 6.0?

Below is an excerpt from the System Requirements section:

CPU:	Intel Pentium III or compatible at 800 MHz or higher
RAM:	384 MB minumum, 512 MB or more recommended
Disk Space:	480MB minimum, plus up to 1GB for temporary use

See the System Requirements page for details on operating system support.

What third-party software is required for Excelsior JET to work?

No third-party software is required. Excelsior JET contains the Java SE API implementation licensed from Sun Microsystems and a complete Java Virtual Machine.

What is required for a JET-compiled application to work?

The JRE is not required to run an application optimized by Excelsior JET. What is required is the Excelsior JET Runtime, which includes dynamic libraries containing the precompiled Java platform API, and auxiliary Java API files, such as native method libraries, fonts, properties, security policy files, etc.

You may also build your application with the Global Optimizer so that the required Java API classes are compiled together with your application's classes and linked into one executable along with the runtime support routines. However, such an executable still needs the dynamic libraries implementing the Java API native methods, and the auxiliary files.

The JetPackII utility, included with the product, automatically packages the required Excelsior JET Runtime files along with your application's files into a self-installing archive or a self-contained directory that can be deployed to other system by a simple copying operation. You may also use a third-party setup authoring tool.

Is there consulting available for Excelsior JET?

Yes. Follow this link to Excelsior JET Consulting page to find out more.

On a larger scale, Excelsior offers Java Consulting Services, which may, in particular, include setup for compilation of your program with Excelsior JET.