B4J Tutorial [IoT] Linux Embedded Boards - Gettings started

There are many Linux based, embedded boards available. Most or all of them support Java which means that they also support B4J.

In order to start development we need to install Java JRE 7+ (JDK is also good) and to run B4J-Bridge.

The steps required:
1. Connect to the board with shell access (SSH).
2. Find the correct Java version and download it to your PC.
Search Google for the board name + Java to find it.
Examples:
- Raspberry Pi - Java is already installed
- Intel Edison - Linux x86
- BeagleBoard - http://beagleboard.org/project/java/

I find it easiest to download the tar.gz file. Unzip it on your pc and copy the tar file with SSH to the board.
Unpack it with:
B4X:
tar -xf jdk-xxx.tar
Check that it is working with:
B4X:
jdk-xx/bin/java -version

3. Download B4J-Bridge and run it.
If the board is connected to the internet then you can download it with:
B4X:
wget www.b4x.com/b4j/files/b4j-bridge.jar

Otherwise you should download it to your PC: www.b4x.com/b4j/files/b4j-bridge.jar and then copy it to the board.

Run it with:
B4X:
jdk-xxx/bin/java -jar b4j-bridge.jar

4. Connect the IDE to the IP address printed in the terminal (Tools - B4J Bridge - Connect).
Note that B4J-Bridge will print the first ip address reported by the OS. It is possible that the board has multiple ip addresses. You an enter any of the ip addresses in the IDE.
 
Last edited:

SimonElck

Member
Licensed User
I just unpacked my raspberry pi 3 and am trying this.
I got the bridge running with this command:
java -jar b4j-bridge.jar (not jdk- .....that did not work)

Now I read on the forum somewhere that GUI programs are no longer supported by raspbian, what is the latest on this please?
(meaning I don't have to download JavaFX as it will not work anyway, or did I misunderstand?)

Cannot wait to try things...
 
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