Java Card Development Tools

Before showing you and explaining how to write a Hello World applet for the java card, I would like to discuss how to set the development envirement for the java card applets.
Fortunately, Oracle has provided all the necessary tools, libraries and set of APIs for the development of the Java Card applets. Go to the Oracle offical website and download java card sdk version 2.2.1.

Note: Please don’t go for java card 3.0 as there is no real java card available for prgramming and there is not use to learn if you don’t have a real time envirement to deploy or test it. For further information click here

When you will download the development kit, you will will find that it also have complete java card specs and API documentation alongwith programemrs note. Mainly following tools are very helpful for development of java card apps:

• Java Card Converter
• scriptgen
• Off-card Tool
• exp2text tool
• Off-card verifier
• capdump
• Installer

A brief description of all of the above mentioned tools are given below:

• Java Card Converter
The converter tool is a very important tool. This tool tool’s duty is to convert your java source files thats .class files to .cap file. CAP file is a Converted Applet File, and this is the actual file which you load and install on the java card. You can’t directly upload your source files(.class files) onto the card.
For more information click here
• scriptgen
This tool simple converts your CAP file into a sequence of APDUs which can be send to java card for installation of that particular CAP file.
For more information click here
• Off-card Tool
The off-card verifier is a combination of three tools, verifycap, verifyexp, and verifyrev.
For more information click here
• exp2text tool
The exp2text tool is provided to allow you to view any export file in text format or human readable formate.
For more information click here
• capdump
This tool is similar as exp2text tool. For viewing cap files in the ascii format you will use this tool on the command prompt.
For more information click here
• Installer

The development kit installer can be used to:
• Dynamically download a Java Card technology package to a Java Card technology-compliant smart card. During development, the CAP file can be installed in the C-language Java Card RE rather than on a Java Card technology-compliant smart card. The installer is capable of downloading version 2.1, 2.2, 2.2.1, and 2.2.2 Java Card technology based CAP files (“Java Card CAP files”).
• Perform necessary on-card linking.
• Delete applets and packages from a Java Card technology-compliant smart card. Once the installer is selected, requests for deletion can be sent from the terminal to the Java Card technology-compliant smart card in the form of APDU commands. For more information, see Deleting Packages and Applets.
• Setting default applets on different logical channels.
• The installer is not a multiselectable application. On startup, the installer is the default applet on logical channel 0. The default applet on the other logical channels is set to No applet selected.