What version of javac built my jar?

Question

How can I tell what version of the Java compiler was used to build a jar? I have a jar file, and it could have been built in any one of three JDKs. We need to know exactly

Answer 1

Each class file has a version number embedded for the byte code level which the JVM use to see if it likes that particular byte code chunk or not. This is 48 for Java 1.4, 49 for Java 1.5 and 50 for Java 6.

Many compilers exist which can generate byte code at each level, javac uses the "-target" option to indicate which byte code level to generate, and the Java 6 javac can generate byte code for at least 1.4, 1.5 and 6. I do not believe that the compiler inserts anything that can identify the compiler itself which is what I think you ask for. Also the Eclipse compiler is increasingly being used, as it is a single jar which can run with the JRE only.

In a jar file there is usually many classes, and each of them is independent, so you need to investigate all classes in the jar to be certain about the characteristics of the contents.