How to Install JDK from Download to Install: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Java Development Kit (JDK) is a software development environment that contains the tools and libraries needed to develop, debug, and run Java applications. It is essential for any Java developer, and it is relatively easy to install.

Step 1: Download the JDK

The first step is to download the JDK from the Oracle website. Go to the Java SE Downloads page: https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/ and select the appropriate version of the JDK for your operating system.

Step 2: Install the JDK

Once you have downloaded the JDK, you need to install it. The installation process is different for different operating systems.

Windows:

1. Double-click the downloaded JDK installer file.
2. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the JDK.
3. Once the installation is complete, click the Close button.

macOS:

1. Open the downloaded JDK installer package.
2. Double-click the JDK installer file.
3. Follow the on-screen instructions to install the JDK.
4. Once the installation is complete, click the Close button.

Linux:

1. Extract the downloaded JDK archive file to a desired location.
2. Open a terminal window.
3. Navigate to the directory where you extracted the JDK archive file.
4. Run the following command to install the JDK:

sudo ./jdk-install.sh
        

Step 3: Verify the JDK installation

Once you have installed the JDK, you need to verify that it is installed correctly. You can do this by running the following command:

 
java -version
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This command should print the version of the JDK that is installed on your system.

Step 4: Set the JAVA_HOME environment variable

The JAVA_HOME environment variable points to the directory where the JDK is installed. You need to set this environment variable so that Java applications can find the JDK.

Windows:

1. Right-click the My Computer icon and select Properties.
2. Click the Advanced System settings link.
3. Click the Environment Variables button.
4. Under System variables, find the JAVA_HOME variable and double-click it.
5. In the Variable Value field, enter the path to the directory where the JDK is installed. For example, if the JDK is installed in the directory C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_131, you would enter the following value:

 
C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_131
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6. Click the OK button to save your changes.

macOS:

1. Open the Terminal application.
2. Run the following command to export the JAVA_HOME environment variable:

 
export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_131.jdk/Contents/Home
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Linux:

1. Open a terminal window.
2. Run the following command to export the JAVA_HOME environment variable:

 
export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/jdk1.8.0_131
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Step 5: Test the JDK installation

Now that the JDK is installed and the JAVA_HOME environment variable is set, you can test the JDK installation by compiling and running a simple Java program.

Create a new file called Hello.java and add the following code to the file:

 
public class Hello {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, world!");
    }
}
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Save the file and compile it using the following command:

 
javac Hello.java
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This command will create a new file called Hello.class.

Run the Java program using the following command:

 
java Hello
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This command should print the message "Hello, world!" to the console.

Congratulations! You have successfully installed the JDK on your system.