javajavafxlicensinglicense-keylicense4j

How to implement first-time online validation and offline license checks using License4J in JavaFX (no Maven/Gradle)?

I'm integrating License4J into a local JavaFX desktop application without Maven or Gradle.

✅ My Goal:

Implement a license validation workflow like this:

  1. On first run:

    • Prompt the user to enter a license key.
    • Validate the key online (node-locked, 30-day expiration).
    • Save the activated license locally (to disk or registry).

  2. On future runs:

    • Skip online check.
    • Validate the saved license offline only (even without internet access).

📩 License4J Support Response:

I reached out to License4J support and they responded with a reference to this Swing example:
🔗 https://github.com/license4j/licensing-library-swing-example1

Their example includes:

❌ What’s Missing or Not Logical:

While the flow seems helpful at first glance, their example and reply fall short for my specific needs:

  1. No API Key or Server URL:
    • Their response does not explain how or where to configure the License4J Server URL or authentication credentials (API key or similar) for online validation.
    • This is critical when connecting to a License4J license server.

I attempted to connect to the endpoint mentioned in your documentation at:

https://cloud.license4j.com/v5/api/license (from this page : https://www.license4j.com/documents/license-server/automation/integrations/rest-api/)

However, I was unable to establish a successful connection or perform validation through this URL. This creates a challenge in achieving the “online validation” functionality you described, as there appears to be no accessible server URL or API key provided to enable such communication.

  1. No Explicit First-Time Online Validation Logic:

    • The example always calls validate() on startup.
    • It only goes online if no file exists — meaning a user could copy a license file from another machine and skip online validation entirely.

  2. Swing-Only Example:

    • The example is in Swing, while I’m working in JavaFX.
    • No mention of how to adapt the logic (e.g., modal dialogs, threading, etc.) to JavaFX.

❓ My Questions:

  1. How can I ensure the first validation is truly online, and the license gets locked/activated?
  2. How should I store and load the license for offline validation securely?
  3. Where and how do I specify the License4J license server URL and any required credentials?
  4. Is there a clean way to do this in JavaFX (not Swing), preferably without Maven or Gradle?

Any help, sample code, or real-world experience would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks in advance.

I attempted to connect to the endpoint mentioned in your documentation at:

https://cloud.license4j.com/v5/api/license (from this page : https://www.license4j.com/documents/license-server/automation/integrations/rest-api/)

However, I was unable to establish a successful connection or perform validation through this URL.

Solution

  • The validate() method, when called without a license key argument, checks the previously saved license stored on disk or in the registry (Windows), depending on what is requested (offline).

    validate("the-license-key") connects to the license server, validates, activates, and receives an encrypted response, finally saving the license data into a specified license file or registry (Windows only). (online)