Getting started with Haxe for Java

1

Install Haxe

1. Download and install the Haxe Compiler.
2. Run this command in your console to globally install Java support in Haxe:
haxelib install hxjava
2

Install a Haxe-compatible IDE

It is recommended to install one of these to develop your Haxe projects.
3

Create your project

1. Create a new directory for your Haxe project, with this structure:
project/
├── src/
│   └── Main.hx
│
├── bin/
│   └── java/
│
└── build.hxml
2. Add the following code into the src/Main.hx file:
class Main {
  static function main() {
    Sys.println("Haxe is great!");
  }
}
3. Add the following build configuration into the build.hxml file:
-cp src
-main Main
-java bin/java
The configuration above specifies that your source code is stored in src/, that your main Haxe file is src/Main.hx, and that you want Haxe to output the Java source code into bin/java/. After code generation, Haxe will automatically detect the installed Java compiler and use it to compile your project into a JAR file in bin/java/.
4

Install the Java runtime and SDK

Haxe requires Java 6 or later. Due to security fixes and new features Java 8 or later is recommended.

1. Install the latest Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
2. Test your installation by opening a command prompt and typing java -showversion.
  • If your console cannot find java, you have an issue with your installation or the JRE is not added into the PATH environment variable.
  • If the installation was successful, you should see something like the following:
java version "1.8.0_201"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_201-b09)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.201-b09, mixed mode)
3. (Optional in Haxe 4) Install the Java Software Development Kit (SDK).
  • The Java SDK is required for development in Haxe 3, since it can only output Java source code, not the final .jar file.
  • The Java SDK includes the javac compiler that converts .java sources into a .jar file.
  • Since Haxe 4, the Java source code step can be skipped entirely by using the -D jvm define to output .jar files directly.
4. (Optional) If you are intending to develop mobile applications for Android, install the SDK of the target Android version.
5

Develop your project

Haxe API

Browse the Haxe API website for the core Haxe APIs that you can use in your project.
You can use Java-specific APIs in addition to the core Haxe APIs.

Haxe libraries

Browse the haxelib website for community-developed libraries that you can add to your project.
You can install haxelib libraries globally by running haxelib install <library>.
You can specify that your project uses a haxelib by adding -lib <library> to your .hxml file.

6

Compile and run your project

Compilation

Build your Haxe project by running haxe build.hxml in a console in your project directory. This compiles your .hx source code into a Java program which you can run and debug next.

Running and debugging

After compiling your project with Haxe and Java, you'll need to open a console in the bin/java directory and run the command java -jar Main.jar
You can alternatively use a full-fledged Java IDE like the ones given below to run and debug your project easily.

Install a Java IDE

If you want a better debugging experience, you can install a dedicated Java IDE to run and debug your Java programs generated from your Haxe project.
7

Ask the community

If you need help with anything, visit the vibrant Haxe community and simply ask for help with the details of your project. We have a helpful and active community and you should get your answers quickly!