How to install and set up Java

To create an application using Java or run a program that needs Java runtime, the system requires some core technology packages to be installed. Java Development Kit (JDK) is one of the core packages, along with the JVM (Java Virtual Machine) and the JRE (Java Runtime Environment). Let’s learn how to install and set up Java.

Download and install Java

To install the Java Development Kit (JDK),

1. Go to Java SE Downloads using the below link: https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase-downloads.html

2. Choose your preferred Java Standard Edition (Java SE) release and click on JDK download.

3. Download JDK after logging into your Oracle account and install the .dmg or .exe file following the default instructions.

Set up Java path (Mac)

Follow the below steps to set up Java path,

1. Open terminal on mac, change the path to the root. Then, open the bash_profile file.

$  cd ~
$  open -e .bash_profile (Opens bash_profile in Text Editor)

If bash_profile does not exist, you can create it using

$  touch . ~/.bash_profile

2. Set JAVA_HOME in bash_profile and add to PATH.

export JAVA_HOME='/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_181.jdk/Contents/Home'
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

3. You can close bash_profile and close the terminal before verifying if Java has been successfully installed.

Or you can type source .bash_profile in the terminal to execute the .bash_profile file. Here, you do not need to close the terminal.

Verify Java path and version

You have set up the path. Now, let’s verify if everything works as expected.

Type echo $JAVA_HOME in the terminal, you should see the complete path of Java.

$ echo $JAVA_HOME
 /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_181.jdk/Contents/Home 

Type java -version to see the Java version which has been installed.

 $ java -version
 java version "1.8.0_202"
 Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_202-b08)
 Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.202-b08, mixed mode) 

You’re all set! Happy coding…