Can a main class return any value?

[gobinda77]

Can a main class return any value?

 

[scripter73]

I don't think so, because of the very nature of how its defined:

public static void main(String[] args)

.... void indicates that main isn't returning anything.

I'm new to Java myself, so someone may want to confirm this.

However, I'll say no. If I find out more, I'll let you know.

HTH
Change Your Thinking, Change Your Life.

 

[AlistairMonkeyFinger]

yeah, i think scripter is right, according to the Sun Educationl Services booklet (!!) the Java interpreter must find

public static void main(String[] args)

defined exactly or it refuses to run.

Alistair

 

[sedj]

public static void main(String[] args) is the precise syntax that the JVM looks for when executing a programme.

public static void String(String[] args) would return a String.

public static void int(String[] args) would return an int.

By definition, void returns nothing.

 

[HenryMonster]

The main method of a Java class cannot return
a value.

However, I guess what you are looking for is
some way to let another application or a calling
script know how you program has terminated.

Let's put it this way: when you return form the
main method it means your application has finished
its job.

So what you can do is to use a static exit method
of the System class:



System.exit(<integer value>);

If you are are under Unix and your JVM was launched
from any Unix shell, you can get the value passed
to the exit method by using shell special variable $?.


In DOS/Windows you can use %ERRORLEVEL% variable
if you are using .cmd or .bat files to launch
your Java program.

Clarify what your goal is and may be we could
assist you more...