# Set up JNI development in Gradle project

IntelliJ IDEA supports [JNI
development in Gradle](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/native_software.html) projects.

This tutorial uses on the Java 1.8 and Gradle 7.4 versions. The tutorial uses the [software model](https://blog.gradle.org/state-and-future-of-the-gradle-software-model).

If you want to use the [replacement plugins](https://docs.gradle.org/current/userguide/building_cpp_projects.html#cpp_plugin), you can check the [JNI Sample](https://github.com/vladsoroka/GradleJniSample) project.

> **Note:**
> If you use Kotlin in your project, check out the [Kotlin tutorial](https://kotlinlang.org/docs/get-started-with-jvm-gradle-project.html).

Procedure: To add JNI support

1. Create a [new](gradle.html#project_create_gradle) or open an [existing](gradle.html#gradle_import) Gradle project.

2. Open the `build.gradle` file.

3. Add the following code to the `build.gradle`:

To run on Windows:

```GROOVY
import org.gradle.internal.jvm.Jvm

plugins {
    id 'java'
    id 'application'
    id 'c'
}

mainClassName = 'HelloWorld'

repositories {
    mavenCentral()
}

dependencies {
    testImplementation 'junit:junit:4.12'
}

sourceCompatibility = 1.8
targetCompatibility = 1.8

application {
    applicationDefaultJvmArgs = ["-Djava.library.path=" + file("${buildDir}/libs/hello/shared").absolutePath]
}

model {
    platforms {
        x64 {
            architecture "x86_64"
        }
    }

    components {
        hello(NativeLibrarySpec) {
            targetPlatform "x64"
            binaries.all {
                def jvmHome = Jvm.current().javaHome
                if (targetPlatform.operatingSystem.macOsX) {
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include"
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include/darwin"
                    cCompiler.args '-mmacosx-version-min=10.4'
                    linker.args '-mmacosx-version-min=10.4'
                } else if (targetPlatform.operatingSystem.linux) {
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include"
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include/linux"
                    cCompiler.args '-D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64'
                } else if (targetPlatform.operatingSystem.windows) {
                    cCompiler.args "-I${jvmHome}/include"
                    cCompiler.args "-I${jvmHome}/include/win32"
                } else if (targetPlatform.operatingSystem.freeBSD) {
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include"
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include/freebsd"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

classes.dependsOn 'helloSharedLibrary'
```

To run on macOS:

```GROOVY
import org.gradle.internal.jvm.Jvm

plugins {
    id 'java'
    id 'application'
    id 'c'
}

mainClassName = 'HelloWorld'

repositories {
    mavenCentral()
}

dependencies {
    testImplementation 'junit:junit:4.12'
}

sourceCompatibility = 1.8
targetCompatibility = 1.8

application {
    applicationDefaultJvmArgs = ["-Djava.library.path=" + file("${buildDir}/libs/hello/shared").absolutePath]
}

model {
    platforms {
        x64 {
            architecture "x86_64"
        }
    }

    components {
        hello(NativeLibrarySpec) {
            targetPlatform "x64"
            binaries.all {
                def jvmHome = Jvm.current().javaHome
                if (targetPlatform.operatingSystem.macOsX) {
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include"
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include/darwin"
                    cCompiler.args '-mmacosx-version-min=10.9'
                    linker.args '-mmacosx-version-min=10.9'
                    linker.args '-stdlib=libc++'
                } else if (targetPlatform.operatingSystem.linux) {
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include"
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include/linux"
                    cCompiler.args '-D_FILE_OFFSET_BITS=64'
                } else if (targetPlatform.operatingSystem.windows) {
                    cCompiler.args "-I${jvmHome}/include"
                    cCompiler.args "-I${jvmHome}/include/win32"
                } else if (targetPlatform.operatingSystem.freeBSD) {
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include"
                    cCompiler.args '-I', "${jvmHome}/include/freebsd"
                }
            }
        }
    }
}

classes.dependsOn 'helloSharedLibrary'
```

To make your setup work smoothly, keep in mind the following details :

* IntelliJ IDEA uses the version of Gradle JVM located in the [Gradle settings](gradle-settings.html#gradle_jvm).

* Depending on your OS, compiler parameters may vary, keep that in mind when you change `cCompiler.args` and `linker.args` in your `build.gradle`.

* When the application is run with the following existing system property: ```GROOVY application { applicationDefaultJvmArgs = ["-Djava.library.path=" + file("${buildDir}/libs/hello/shared").absolutePath] } ``` and this application depends on `classes.dependsOn 'helloSharedLibrary'`, IntelliJ IDEA generates the binary `libhello.dylib` file for the shared library in the Project tool window. ![binary for shared library](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/binary_for_shared_library.png) > **Note:** > Note that `libhello.dylib` depends on the OS you have. For example, for Windows the name of the binary will be `hello.dll`.

4. In the Project tool window, select the `src | java` directory.

5. Right-click the `java` directory and select `New | Java Class` to create a Java class `HelloWorld` that will use `C` code.

6. Open the created `HelloWorld` class in the editor and enter the following code:

```JAVA
class HelloWorld {
    public native void print();

    static {
        System.loadLibrary("hello");
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        new HelloWorld().print();
    }
}
```

Code specified in the file will load the generated [system library](#library_binary).

7. In the Project tool window, in the `src` directory, create the `hello/c/hello.c` file, which is a file for your `C` programs.

8. Open the `hello.c` file in the editor and specify the following code:

```CSHARP
#include <jni.h>
#include <stdio.h>

JNIEXPORT void JNICALL
Java_HelloWorld_print(JNIEnv *env, jobject obj)
{
printf("Hello From C++ World!\n");
return;
}
```

At this point you can start developing your application further using native codes as needed.

Procedure: Run your application

1. Open your run configuration dialog.

2. If you use macOS as your operating system, then add the following code to the VM options field.

![Run configuration](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/run_config_vm_options.png)

The VM options field can be added from the Modify options list.

Click OK to save the changes.

3. Click ![the Run button](https://resources.jetbrains.com.cn/help/img/idea/2026.2/app.runConfigurations.testState.run.svg) on the main toolbar.