Java backporting tools

Java backporting tools are programs (usually written in Java) that convert Java classes bytecodes from one version of the Java Platform to an older one (for example Java 5.0 backported to 1.4).

Java backporting tools comparison

Main information

	Last Release	License	Website
Retrotranslator	2009-08-09, 1.2.9	BSD-like	http://retrotranslator.sourceforge.net/
Retroweaver	2008-10-14, 2.0.7	BSD-like	http://retroweaver.sourceforge.net/
Declawer	2007-11-14	LGPL or MPL	https://glazedlists.dev.java.net/servlets/ProjectDocumentList?folderID=4541&expandFolder=4541&folderID=4540
JBossRetro	2008-03-10, 1.1.2	LGPL	http://www.jboss.org/community/docs/DOC-10738

Features

	generics	enhanced for loops	annotations	autoboxing and unboxing	static imports	varargs	Enumerations	Reflection on generics and annotations	Covariant return types	Formatted output	Formatted input	Collections framework enhancements	Concurrency utilities	emulate the Java 5.0 memory model	support for JDK1.6 File methods like canExecute()	API support for JDK1.4	API support for JDK1.3	API support for older release
Retrotranslator	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	Yes	Yes[1]	No	No	extensive	limited	none
Retroweaver	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
Declawer	Yes
JBossRetro

See also

• Backporting

References

1. ^ It uses the backport of the Java 5.0 concurrency utilities.

External links

• How to use Java 5 language features in earlier JDKs