hey people..
i'm trying to compile java files in debian using gcj but i'm gettin some error like..

/usr/lib/gcc/i486-linux-gnu/4.1.2/../../../../lib/crt1.o: In function `_start':
../sysdeps/i386/elf/start.S:115: undefined reference to `main'
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status


my program is absolutely correct...
does anybody know wat the problem is and how to solve..
it would be a great help to know the solution so tat i can start
java programming in debian...

use

javac file.java
java file

The problem is the java from 'gcj' and 'gij' , not working on
a lot of applications.

Debian Lenny :
My solution was to download all "sun" and dependencies from ubuntu :
Regards

Do Not, I repeat Do NOT install ubuntu packages in a debian system.

If your using stable I would suggest using backports.

apt-get install sun-java6-jdk sun-java6-source sun-java6-bin sun-java6-plugin sun-java6-jre
should be more than enough to get you what you need,

If you're trying to compile Class files with gcj, use the gcj -C option. Works for me every single time.

~$gcj -C helloworld.java
~$java helloworld

Add this line to your /etc/apt/sources.list file:

deb ftp://ftp.debian.org/debian/ stable non-free

With this you will be able to install "non-free"(at least from the debian point of view) software, like sun's java. After doing this, you run synaptic, click "reload" and install the "sun-java5-jdk" package (or just run: sudo apt-get install sun-java5-jdk).
After this you will have javac and java and be able to compile/run your java programs.

Thanks... this worked... but is gcj as capable as javac???? i mean can i get all the utilities of javac or installing sun-java is better as suggested by other members.....???

Java bytecode is Java bytecode. What gcj does by default is try to make your .java files into architecture-dependant binaries. You need to tell it not to do that and instead make files that are read by whatever JRE you are using.

If you want to make GUI applications, you can install the OpenJDK Java Runtime Environment, and still compile stuff with the gcj. That's what I do. The gij doesn't read swing very well.

Note: when it comes to linking, I'm no expert. But for the most part, the biggest thing about making Java classes is the fact that they are able to be ported to other operating systems without modification. That's what the gcj -C invocation is so useful.

What you do is your business. I'm not going to say what I do is better than what anybody else does.

Happy hacking.