Python Boosts JAR File Auditor Functionality

nderstanding the Java classpath and Java's classloading mechanism are essential for any proficient Java developer. In a previous DevX article (Put an End to Jar File and Class Name Conflicts), I discussed how duplicate jar files and classes can cause hard-to-detect naming conflicts, which produce errors that are difficult to debug. A simple jar file audit utility I wrote in Java can make identifying these problematic duplications much easier.

However, this Java auditor was my first pass at the tool. I've since discovered that Python enables a port of the utility that is cleaner in its implementation and more complete in its auditing capabilities than my original. In this article, I present the Python port (which I hereafter refer to as the auditor), discuss its advantages, and highlight some of the great Python features that allow you to produce robust functionality with minimal code.