# Package javax.tools

package javax.tools
Provides interfaces for tools which can be invoked from a program, for example, compilers.

These interfaces and classes are required as part of the Java Platform, Standard Edition (Java SE), but there is no requirement to provide any tools implementing them.

Unless explicitly allowed, all methods in this package might throw a `NullPointerException` if given a `null` argument or if given a list or collection containing `null` elements. Similarly, no method may return `null` unless explicitly allowed.

This package is the home of the Java programming language compiler framework. This framework allows clients of the framework to locate and run compilers from programs. The framework also provides Service Provider Interfaces (SPI) for structured access to diagnostics (`DiagnosticListener`) as well as a file abstraction for overriding file access (`JavaFileManager` and `JavaFileObject`). See `JavaCompiler` for more details on using the SPI.

There is no requirement for a compiler at runtime. However, if a default compiler is provided, it can be located using the `ToolProvider`, for example:

    JavaCompiler compiler = ToolProvider.getSystemJavaCompiler();

It is possible to provide alternative compilers or tools through the service provider mechanism.

For example, if `com.vendor.VendorJavaCompiler` is a provider of the `JavaCompiler` tool then its jar file would contain the file `META-INF/services/javax.tools.JavaCompiler`. This file would contain the single line:

    com.vendor.VendorJavaCompiler

If the jar file is on the class path, `VendorJavaCompiler` can be located using code like this:

    JavaCompiler compiler = ServiceLoader.load(JavaCompiler.class).iterator().next();

Since:
  1.6

- Class
  Description
  Diagnostic<S>
  Interface for diagnostics from tools.
  Diagnostic.Kind
  Kinds of diagnostics, for example, error or warning.
  DiagnosticCollector<S>
  Provides an easy way to collect diagnostics in a list.
  DiagnosticListener<S>
  Interface for receiving diagnostics from tools.
  DocumentationTool
  Interface to invoke Java programming language documentation tools from programs.
  DocumentationTool.DocumentationTask
  Interface representing a future for a documentation task.
  DocumentationTool.Location
  Locations specific to `DocumentationTool`.
  FileObject
  File abstraction for tools.
  ForwardingFileObject<F extends FileObject>
  Forwards calls to a given file object.
  ForwardingJavaFileManager<M extends JavaFileManager>
  Forwards calls to a given file manager.
  ForwardingJavaFileObject<F extends JavaFileObject>
  Forwards calls to a given file object.
  JavaCompiler
  Interface to invoke Java programming language compilers from programs.
  JavaCompiler.CompilationTask
  Interface representing a future for a compilation task.
  JavaFileManager
  File manager for tools operating on Java programming language source and class files.
  JavaFileManager.Location
  Interface for locations of file objects.
  JavaFileObject
  File abstraction for tools operating on Java programming language source and class files.
  JavaFileObject.Kind
  Kinds of JavaFileObjects.
  OptionChecker
  Interface for recognizing options.
  SimpleJavaFileObject
  Provides simple implementations for most methods in JavaFileObject.
  StandardJavaFileManager
  File manager based on `java.io.File` and `java.nio.file.Path`.
  StandardJavaFileManager.PathFactory
  Factory to create `Path` objects from strings.
  StandardLocation
  Standard locations of file objects.
  Tool
  Common interface for tools that can be invoked from a program.
  ToolProvider
  Provides methods for locating tool providers, for example, providers of compilers.