Bug Report: libjaxb-java incompatible with libjakarta-activation-java in Java Module System
Date: Oct 10, 2025, 10:44
From: clort@tutanota.com
To: pkg-java-maintainers@lists.alioth.debian.org
Subject: Bug Report: libjaxb-java incompatible with libjakarta-activation-java in Java Module System
> Dear maintainers,
>
> I am writing to report a packaging incompatibility between the libjaxb-java and libjakarta-activation-java packages when used with a modern Java (9+) application that uses the module system.
>
> System Information:
>
> Distribution: Devuan Daedalus
> Package Version: libjaxb-java 2.3.0.1-10.1
> Package Version: libjakarta-activation-java 2.0.0-1
> Java Version:
> openjdk 17.0.16 2025-07-15
> OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 17.0.16+8-Debian-1deb12u1)
> OpenJDK 64-Bit Server VM (build 17.0.16+8-Debian-1deb12u1, mixed mode, sharing)
>
> Summary of the Problem:
> The jaxb-api.jar file provided by libjaxb-java declares a dependency on a module named java.activation. However, the jakarta-activation.jar provided by libjakarta-activation-java provides a module named jakarta.activation. This mismatch prevents any Java application from using both packages together with the --add-modules flag, resulting in a FindException.
>
> Steps to Reproduce:
>
> On a clean Devuan Daedalus system, install the required packages:
> sudo apt install default-jdk libjaxb-java libjakarta-activation-java
> Create a minimal test case. The following invocation fails:
> java --module-path /usr/share/java/jaxb-api.jar:/usr/share/java/jakarta-activation.jar --add-modules java.xml.bind,jakarta.activation -jar [any-jar-that-uses-jaxb]
>
> The command produces the following error:
> Error occurred during initialization of boot layer
> java.lang.module.FindException: Module java.activation not found, required by java.xml.bind
>
> Root Cause Analysis:
> The module-info.class within /usr/share/java/jaxb-api.jar contains a requires java.base; and requires java.activation; clause. However, the module-info.class within /usr/share/java/jakarta-activation.jar defines its name as module jakarta.activation. The module system cannot resolve this dependency.
>
> Workaround:
> The only way to use these libraries is to bypass the module system entirely and use the traditional classpath:
>
> java -cp /usr/share/java/jaxb-api.jar:/usr/share/java/jaxb-runtime.jar:/usr/share/java/jakarta-activation.jar:[app].jar [main.class]
>
> This is not ideal as it prevents the use of modern Java features.
>
> Suggested Fix:
> The libjaxb-java package should be rebuilt so its jaxb-api.jar module correctly depends on jakarta.activation instead of java.activation, aligning it with the Jakarta EE standard that the companion packages have adopted.
>
> Thank you for your time and for maintaining Devuan. Please let me know if you need any further information or testing.
>
> Best regards,
> clort@tutanota.com
>
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