With my Ubuntu installation, I got error “java.lang.noclassdeffounderror: javafx/application/application” running JabRef-4.3.1.jar.
1 java -jar JabRef-4.3.1.jar JabRef-4.3.1.jar depends on Java 8 Solution was found in this Issue. JabRef-4.3.1.jar requires Java 8, but the default-jdk in Ubuntu 18.04 is openjdk-11-jdk (Java 11), under which JabRef does not work. So first I have to remove openjfx of new version with “sudo apt purge openjfx”, then install the required version of openjfx.