How to include an external JAR in a directory within the Java classpath and run the Java class?

Question

I have a Java file that contains an external JAR and I want to run it. It is a simple project: https://github.com/eveningstar33/external-jar and I tested it with Java 8 and also with Java 11. The command to create the class file is javac -cp./lib/* HelloWorld.java and it's working, but if I try to run the class using this command: java -cp./lib/*:./ HelloWorld it doesn't work and I get this error message:

Error: Could not find or load main class HelloWorld
Caused by: java.lang.ClassNotFoundException: HelloWorld

What should I do to run it? Thank you!

Answer 1

Use java -cp./lib/* HelloWorld to run the class.

Update:

If the one given above doesn't work, please try with a "" ie use java -cp "./lib/*" HelloWorld to run the class.

Another update (tested):

Sorry for posting earlier solutions without testing them myself. Now, I have tested the following to be working:

java -cp .:lib/* HelloWorld