This bootstrap passes Windows UTF-16 arguments directly to the Kotlin entry point through the public JNI Invocation API. It hosts Java in the same console process, preserves the current directory and streams, and uses a process-local UTF-8 manifest. It does not alter the system locale or console code page.

Build with Zig 0.15.2 and Windows JDK 21 headers using windowsDistZip; see installation. The executable targets Windows x64, Windows 10 version 1903 or newer, and HotSpot JDK 21. JAVA_HOME takes priority over a java.exe found on PATH.

JAVA_OPTS and SCOUTERCTL_OPTS accept JVM options using Windows command-line quoting. The JVM also reads JAVA_TOOL_OPTIONS. The java.exe-specific JDK_JAVA_OPTIONS is rejected with guidance rather than silently ignored. Java launcher options such as -jar or --class-path are not JVM options.

The distribution copies the Zig runtime, LLVM C++/ABI/unwind and MinGW notices from the pinned toolchain. The JDK is not bundled. Scouterctl's own source remains Apache-2.0.

JDK 21 still cannot load application JARs through a class path containing supplementary characters such as emoji. Korean installation paths and Unicode argument/file values are supported; emoji in the installation path remains outside this launcher's supported scope. The launcher does not use JDK-private APIs.

For a Java ProcessBuilder caller, use -Djdk.lang.Process.allowAmbiguousCommands=false in the calling JVM when passing literal quotes and backslashes. The legacy Windows quoting mode can discard characters before the executable receives them.