Named pipes between Java and C/C++ programs

[lipkerson]

Hi All.

I think of using in windows a named pipe to communicate between two apps written in Java and C. Normally i use socket connection to do this, but now i have to cancel this idea and find a new solution.

I read that named pipe in java can be visible only inside JVM-is this true?
Is there a way to establish named pipe between two apps wriiten in different language?

If not, what kind of technology do You advice?

regards
Lucjan

[Fubarable]

I don't know the solution, but I'm curious why a socket won't work for you?

Luck!

[Eranga]

Let see others comments on this, however as far as I know there is no specific API for name pipes. Did you find a one.

[Singing Boyo]

I'd guess that there is no way of using named pipes directly from Java, as they're very platform-dependant. If sockets won't work for you, you'll probably have to go through the JNI (Java Native Interface) to create, and possibly to write/read named pipes.

[chyrl]

I don't know the solution, but I'm curious why a socket won't work for you?

Luck!

I don't know about the Pipe classes.
But I'm also curious to these, why use Socket method?
Also what I have read, Pipe classes are best used within the OS not in the JVM.
(I just researched it, but never tried it so far)

Better read further about Pipe classes.
And understand some Pipe implemented sample programs
It might work for you.

Regards,
Cyril H.

[Fubarable]

Some useful links I've found through Google:

tutorials.jenkov.com/java-io/pipes.html
how-to-open-a-windows-named-pipe-from-java

Most I've seen recommend sockets or if one needs pipes, then JNI (I suppose JNA would work as well then).
[caveat: I'm no expert in this but am just passing on my interpretations of what I've read]

[Eranga]

Sounds the first link has a nice explanation Fubarable. Thanks for sharing with us.

[lipkerson]

Hi all:) Thanks for feedback.

In the first link -PipedInputStream and PipedOutputStream classes are useless:/ This is a way to communicate only between threads etc in one JVM.

I read a lot and the conclusion is that there is no way to create NamedPipe in windows(or other OS) directly. The onsly way to create it, is to use JNI/JNA to invoke a CreateNamedPipe native function in one of windows dll's. But then.....

I found this:

V01ver-HowTo Collection: HowTo: Use Named Pipes to Communicate Between Java and .Net Processes

So in java probably no matter the OS, I can connect to an existing pipe:) I didn't test It yet but soon I will wrote few sentences about the result.

In my situation-I'am not forced to be the java-side a serwer side - it's no difference to me so if the soultion written above works it will be cool.

Thx

regards
Lucjan