Installing Java locally

Learn how to install Java locally to solve Exercism's exercises on your own machine

In addition to the exercism CLI and your favorite text editor, practicing with Exercism exercises in Java requires:

  • the Java Development Kit (JDK) — which includes both a Java Runtime and development tools (most notably, the Java compiler); and
  • Gradle — a build tool specifically for Java projects.

Choose your operating system:

... or ...

Optionally, you can also use a Java IDE.

Open an administrative command prompt. (If you need assistance opening an administrative prompt, see open an elevated prompt in Windows 8+ (or Windows 7).

  1. If you have not installed Chocolatey, do so now:

    C:\Windows\system32> @powershell -NoProfile -ExecutionPolicy unrestricted -Command "iex ((new-object net.webclient).DownloadString('https://chocolatey.org/install.ps1'))" && SET PATH=%PATH%;%ALLUSERSPROFILE%\chocolatey\bin

  2. Install the JDK:

    C:\Windows\system32> choco install openjdk11
...
C:\Windows\system32> refreshenv
...

  3. Install Gradle:

    C:\Windows\system32>choco install gradle
...

We recommend closing the administrative command prompt and opening a new command prompt -- you do not require administrator privileges to practice Exercism exercises.

You now are ready to get started with the Java track of Exercism!

To get started, see "Running the Tests".

Below are instructions for install using the most common method - using Homebrew. If you'd rather, you can also install on macOS without Homebrew.

Installing

  1. If you haven't installed Homebrew, yet, do so now:

    $ /usr/bin/ruby -e "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/master/install)"

  2. Tap the Homebrew Cask — this allows us to install pre-built binaries like the JDK.

    $ brew tap adoptopenjdk/openjdk

  3. Install the JDK:

    $ brew install --cask adoptopenjdk11

  4. Install Gradle:

    $ brew install gradle

You now are ready to get started with the Java track of Exercism!

To get started, see "Running the Tests".

Below are instructions for install using the package manager of your distro. If you'd rather, you can also install on Linux without a package manager.

Debian

If you are using Debian or its derivatives (like Ubuntu), use APT:

(verified on: Ubuntu 14, 16 and 18)

  1. Install the JDK:

    $ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install software-properties-common
$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:openjdk-r/ppa
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install openjdk-11-jdk

  2. Install Gradle:

    $ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:cwchien/gradle
$ sudo apt-get update
$ sudo apt-get install gradle

You now are ready to get started with the Java track of Exercism!

To get started, see "Running the Tests".

Other Linux distributions

There are a lot of ways to install Jdk 11, but one of the easiest ways is to use SDKMAN, which lets you install both OpenJdk11 and the latest Gradle with ease. Use the following steps:

  1. Install SDKMAN: 
    $ curl -s "https://get.sdkman.io" | bash
    (if that doesn't work, take a look at the instructions found here: https://sdkman.io/install )
  2. Install openjdk11: 
    $ sdk install java 11.0.2-open
  3. Install Gradle: 
    $ sdk install gradle

You now are ready to get started with the Java track of Exercism!

To get started, see "Running the Tests".

Installing on Windows manually

NOTE: these instructions are intended for experienced Windows users. If you don't already know how to set environment variables or feel comfortable managing the directory structure, we highly recommend you use the Chocolatey-based install, above.

  1. Install the JDK:
    1. Download "OpenJDK 11 (LTS)" from AdoptOpenJDK (choose "Install JDK").
    • Run the installer, using all the defaults.
  2. Install Gradle:
    • Download "Binary only distribution" from the Gradle download page.
    • Unzip the archive. We recommend a place like C:\Users\JohnDoe\Tools.
    • Add a new system environment variable named GRADLE_HOME and set it to the path you just created (e.g. C:\Users\JohnDoe\Tools\gradle-x.y).
    • Update the system Path to include the bin directory from Gradle's home (e.g. Path=...;%GRADLE_HOME%\bin).

You now are ready to get started with the Java track of Exercism!

To get started, see "Running the Tests".

Installing on macOS without Homebrew

NOTE: these instructions are intended for experienced macOS users. Unless you specifically do not want to use a package manager, we highly recommend using the Homebrew-based installation instructions, above.

  1. Install the JDK:

    1. Download "OpenJDK 11 (LTS)" from AdoptOpenJDK (choose "Install JDK").
    2. Run the installer, using all the defaults.

  2. Install Gradle:

    1. Download "Binary only distribution" from the Gradle download page.
    2. Unpack Gradle:
    $ mkdir ~/tools
$ cd ~/tools
$ unzip ~/Downloads/gradle-*-bin.zip
$ cd gradle*
    1. Configure Gradle and add it to the path:
    $ cat << DONE >> ~/.bashrc
export GRADLE_HOME=`pwd`
export PATH=\$PATH:\$GRADLE_HOME/bin
DONE

You now are ready to get started with the Java track of Exercism!

To get started, see "Running the Tests".

Installing on Linux without a package manager

NOTE: these instructions are intended for experienced Linux users. Unless you specifically do not want to use a package manager, we highly recommend using the installation instructions, above.

  1. Install the JDK:

    1. Choose your distribution and download "OpenJDK 11 (LTS)" from AdoptOpenJDK (choose "Install JDK").
    2. Run the installer, using all the defaults.

  2. Install Gradle:

    1. Download "Binary only distribution" from the Gradle download page.
    2. Unpack Gradle:
    $ mkdir ~/tools
$ cd ~/tools
$ unzip ~/Downloads/gradle-*-bin.zip
$ cd gradle*
    1. Configure Gradle and add it to the path:
    $ cat << DONE >> ~/.bashrc
export GRADLE_HOME=`pwd`
export PATH=\$PATH:\$GRADLE_HOME/bin
DONE

You now are ready to get started with the Java track of Exercism!

To get started, see "Running the Tests".

There are many Java IDEs available. The three most popular are:

and there are others.