Launch and debug Java services without keeping a full IDE open.

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JLaunch is a lightweight desktop launchpad for Spring Boot, Maven multi-module projects, and Tomcat. Select a Maven root once and it discovers every runnable Spring Boot application below it. Run and Debug both use the selected JDK's java executable directly; Maven is used to resolve an IDEA-like classpath, not as the long-running application process.

JLaunch is an Electron-only desktop application. Settings stay in local SQLite—there is no backend, account, or remote database.

Highlights

• Discover runnable Spring Boot applications while excluding library-only modules.
• Launch with java -classpath ... MainClass, java -jar, or managed Tomcat.
• Merge Maven runtime and compile scopes, including provided dependencies needed by WAR/JSP projects.
• Group applications by repository and start a repository in configured order.
• Attach the selected JDK's jdb, browse source as a directory tree, set line breakpoints, pause, and resume.
• Manage multiple JDK, Maven, and Tomcat installations globally or per project.
• Use a Maven tool window with module tree, Profiles, Lifecycle goals, cancellation, and logs.
• Keep memory bounded to the newest 2,000 lines per console, with text and regular-expression filters.

Downloads

Download the latest build from GitHub Releases.

Platform	Packages	Architectures
macOS	DMG, ZIP	Apple Silicon, Intel
Windows	NSIS installer, portable EXE	x64

Public builds are currently unsigned. macOS may require Right click → Open, and Windows may show a SmartScreen warning. Every release includes SHA-256 checksums.

Quick start

1. Open Toolchains and let JLaunch discover JDK, Maven, and Tomcat installations.
2. Add a directory containing a root pom.xml.
3. Run Maven compile once if the modules do not have target/classes yet.
4. Select an application and choose Run or Debug.

$MODULE_WORKING_DIR$ resolves to each discovered application's own Maven module directory.

Development

Requirements: Node.js 22+ and npm 10+.

npm ci
npm start
npm run check
npm run dist

See Architecture, Contributing, and Security for more detail.

License

MIT © 2026 JLaunch contributors