Question

Is there a Java library to access the native Windows API? Either with COM or JNI.

Answer 1

You could try these two, I have seen success with both.

http://jawinproject.sourceforge.net

The Java/Win32 integration project (Jawin) is a free, open source architecture for interoperation between Java and components exposed through Microsoft's Component Object Model (COM) or through Win32 Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs).

https://github.com/twall/jna/

JNA provides Java programs easy access to native shared libraries (DLLs on Windows) without writing anything but Java code—no JNI or native code is required. This functionality is comparable to Windows' Platform/Invoke and Python's ctypes. Access is dynamic at runtime without code generation.

JNA allows you to call directly into native functions using natural Java method invocation. The Java call looks just like it does in native code. Most calls require no special handling or configuration; no boilerplate or generated code is required.

Also read up here:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Native_Interface

The Java Native Interface (JNI) is a programming framework that allows Java code running in a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) to call and to be called1 by native applications (programs specific to a hardware and operating system platform) and libraries written in other languages, such as C, C++ and assembly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_Native_Access

Java Native Access provides Java programs easy access to native shared libraries without using the Java Native Interface. JNA's design aims to provide native access in a natural way with a minimum of effort. No boilerplate or generated glue code is required.