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javacode-generationbytecodebytecode-manipulation

How to make a copy of a Java class in runtime?

I have a class

class Foo {
    int increment(int x) {
        return x + 1;
    }
}

I want to obtain a copy of this class in runtime, e. g. a class like

class Foo$Copy1 {
    int increment(int x) {
        return x + 1;
    }
}

Which has all the same methods, but a different name.

Proxy seem to help with delegating, but not copying the methods with all their bodies.

Solution

  • You can use Byte Buddy for this:

    Class<?> type = new ByteBuddy()
  .redefine(Foo.class)
  .name("Foo$Copy1")
  .make()
  .load(Foo.class.getClassLoader())
  .getLoaded();

Method method = type.getDeclaredMethod("increment", int.class);
int result = (Integer) method.invoke(type.newInstance(), 1);

    Note that this approach redefines any uses of the class within Foo, e.g. if a method returned Foo, it would now return Foo$Copy1. Same goes for all code-references.