Download & Install the JDK

(Free Web Tutorials & Resources)

by Michael Thomas

Java First Steps Home Page

To begin to play with Java, you need to download the following files:  Java JDK (Java Development Kit) aka SDK (Software Development Kit), JRE (Java Runtime Environment) and the Java API Doc's.  (Sun now has a download manager that you can use to download large files.  If you desire to use a different download manager see my notes on "Download Managers" at the bottom of this page)  If you don't have an Unzip program you may want to download a copy of my favorite: WinZip.  URL -  www.winzip.com (needed to unzip the JDK Doc's)

Java 2 Product Family
JDK v1.3 (and other releases)

Summary of steps

• Download the Java Products:  SDK, DOC's, and JRE.

• Install each of the products and test the install.

Download the Java Products

Download Links

• JDK 6 Update 6- Current Download versions for Windows OS as of 04/25/08.  (Note: EE is 5)
  http://java.sun.com/j2se/ - download the JDK, JRE, and DOC's. Click the "Download" tab at the top, then click Java SE.
  • As of 04/25/08 you need to do the following:
    • On 04/25/08 there is JavaScript errors on the pages but the will load and work fine. Hmmm developers that do not turn on Display of Errors....
    • You will be redirected to: http://java.sun.com/javase/index.jsp
    • Click on the tab "Downloads"
    • Note:  You may want to stay away from Beta versions.
    • Here is a some info on the difference between the "JDK 6" and "JDK 6 with Java EE"
      • Both have the Java SE (Standard Editon) JDK along with the Java RE (Runtime Environment).
      • The EE edition includes the Java SE and also supports:
        web services, component-model, management, and communications APIs that make it the industry standard for implementing enterprise-class service-oriented architecture (SOA) and Web 2.0 applications.
      • The EE edition is about 100meg larger than the SE.
      • The EE edition also installs an Application Server with default ports:
        Admin Port: 4848
        HTTP Port: 8080  (Warning: Default of Tomcat is 8080 also.)
        HTTPS Port: 8181
        (Some Install Options: Create window service (to startup the app server) )
        The following will also be installed: (for Java EE 5 SDK)
        Sun Java System Message Queue 4.1
        Sun Java System Application Server 9.1
        Java BluePrints
        Sample Apps & tutorial called "Your First Cup"
  • Note:  At one time you had to create an account to download.  As of 04/25/08 you didn't have to.
    For the EE install you have an option at the end of the install.
  • Click "Download" - JDK 6 Update 6 - The Java SE Development Kit (JDK) includes the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and command-line development tools that are useful for developing applets and applications.
    FYI:  There is other links for: Installation Instructions | ReadMe | ReleaseNotes | Sun License | Third Party Licenses
    • Click to accept the agreement.
    • Download the following: (Example for XP etc...)
      Platform: Windows Platform
      Language: Multi-language
    • Select the following:
      Windows Offline Installation
      jdk-6u6-windows-i586-p.exe - 71.49MB
    • Download options:
      • HTTP Download of the exe - Just click the link for the name of the download.
      • Download Manager - Click the box, then click the button called: "Download selected with Sun Download Manager".  Next, click "Open", then "Run".  You will need to choose the directory and then click "Start".
  • Click "Download" - Java SE 6 Documentation - to download the docs.
    • Click to accept the agreement
    • Download the following:
      Java SE 6 Documentation
      Java(TM) SE Development Kit Documentation 6, English
      jdk-6-doc.zip 52.36 MB
    • Download options:
      • HTTP Download of the exe - Just click the link for the name of the download.
      • Download Manager - Click the box, then click the button called: "Download selected with Sun Download Manager".  Next, click "Open", then "Run".  You will need to choose the directory and then click "Start".
• Other Download Info
  • Archive Download Versions:
    http://java.sun.com/products/archive/index.html  - Java Archives of older versions.
  • MAC Download Versions (OS Classic).
    http://developer.apple.com/java/download.html - MAC's only (OS Classic) - Sorry, I have no other instructions after this for MAC users.
  • At the above link, download the following products:  (note-download the latest version unless you are developing in an older version.  You may want to stay away from Beta versions.)  
    • For example of the file names that you will be downloading look at the next section.
    • Abbreviations:
      JDK (Java Development Kit).  This Kit will allow you to compile .java files.
      SDK (SoftwareDevelopment Kit)
      SE (Standard Edition)
    • DOC's - Java API documentation
    • JRE - Java Runtime Environment (this allows the browser and/or Java applications to run on your computer).

Install the SDK (JDK)

Install Notes for JDK 1.6

• Version JDK 1.6 Update 6
  • Install the JDK & JRE
    File: jdk-6u6-windows-i586-p.exe - J2SE Development Kit
    • Double click on the install file. 
    • Use all of the Defaults and click "Next" on every screen.  The JDK & JRE will be installed.
      (Installed: Development Tools, Demos and Samples, Source Code, Public JRE, Java DB)
      Java DB - Apache Derby, 100% Java technology DB.
      Does not require a reboot.
    • Install Directory Information
      • Windows
        • JDK 1.6 - "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_03"
          JRE 1.6 - "C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03"
    • Readme File: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_03\README.html
    • Your Finished with the JDK install.
    • Optional, but common:
      • Add/Verify Environment Variables so other tools/apps can use (like Ant, etc...)
        • Go to the Environment Variable add/edit screen:
          Win XPPro: Settings, Control Panel, System, Advanced tab, click on "Environment Variable" button
        • Verify/Add the JAVA_HOME environment variable:
          Click "New"
          Variable Name: JAVA_HOME
          Variable Value: <Full path to the home directory of your JDK install>
          Ex: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_03
          (Note: The Sun java installs (JDK and/or JRE) modifies the PATH variable and does not create the variable "JAVA_HOME".  Other Java tools may use this environment system variable like: Ant)
    • Additional Info
      • The JDK EE (not SE) installs into a directory similar to: C:\Sun\SDK
      • The JDK EE (not SE) installs its EE docs (you still want the SE docs) in the JDK EE install process to:
        EE Docs - C:\Sun\SDK\docs\about.html
      • To test the JDK EE App Server install: http://localhost:8080
        (Warning:  The home page does not look like Tomcat.)
  • Install the Java Docs.
    File: jdk-1-6-doc.zip
    • Copy the .zip file to the root of the JDK install directory
      (IE: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_03)
    • Extract the file (make sure the unzip program keeps the directory structure in the zip file).
      It will create a directory called "docs/etc..." with all of the files.
    • Your Finished with the Doc install.
    • Additonal Info
      • The EE (not SE) docs were install above with the JDK x EE install (see notes above).

Test the Install

• Java Docs - Using windows explorer launch the following file:
  C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_03\docs\index.html - Your browser will display the page.
  At the top of the page click on "API & Language" - This is the Java API.
• Go to a DOS prompt.
  (Start, Programs, Command Prompt) or (Start, Run, then cmd.exe for XP, Win2000, NT or command.com for Win 95/98)
• Test the JRE:
  DOS Command Ex: C:\>"C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.6.0_03\bin\java.exe" -fullversion
  Ex return: java full version "1.6.0_03-b05"
• Test the JDK's JRE:
  DOS Command Ex: C:\>"C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_03\bin\java.exe" -fullversion
  Ex return: java full version "1.6.0_03-b05"
• Skip This Section !!!
  Keeping for my notes for prior Java versions.
  Note: "c:\winnt\java.exe" or "c:\windows\java.exe"
  • FYI - this may have been loaded/updated and may point to your new install.
    Therefore the following may also work:  c:\>java.exe -fullversion
  • Warning:  Every time you install a JDK or JRE, the file "c:\winnt\java.exe" is over written. Remember this when you are testing different JRE versions.
• Test the compiler:
  DOS Command Ex: "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_03\bin\javac.exe" -help
  The above DOS command should display help for the compiler.
  (Note:  DOS gives the error: ... javac.exe is not a valid Win32 application.  If the bytes size = 0 then reinstall the JDK.  I would change the Users "Environment Variables" temp & tmp to "c:\temp" before I installed the software again (voice of experience!).)
  (Note: This is your Java compiler command.  You may want to setup a DOS path to: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_03\bin.  More on this in the "Compile Your Frist Program from DOS" section.)

Congratulations,
you have installed the JDK/SDK, JRE, and Java Docs!

Additional Steps
(Maybe optional unless you compile from DOS or your IDE needs these settings)

• Modify/Add your JDK...\bin directory to your DOS path. 
  For more information see: Java Jem - Compile Your First Program

Terminology

• Java SDK - compile code, run applications, create API's for your code, etc...
  • SDK - I'm not sure what this stands for.  Maybe "Software Development Kit".  Any way you download a SDK.  After installation the directory will be called "JDK1.3"  etc...
  • JDK - Java Development Kit - compile code, run applications, crate API's for your code, etc...
    Note: Version 1.1 was called JDK 1.1.  (Next versions were called J2SDK.)
  • J2SE - Java 2 Standard Edition.
  • J2EE - Java 2 Enterprise Edition
  • J2SDK vx.x - Java 2 Software Development Kit - compile & run Java programs.
  • J2RE  vx.x - Java 2 Runtime Environment - run java programs (you can't compile).
• Java API Docs - html files you can use to guide you through the Java classes.
  API - Application Interface.
• JRE - Java Runtime Environment.  The JRE v 1.2 and above also includes the Java Plug-In.  Use the JRE to run java applications. It is the runtime part of the Java Development Kit, but without the development tools such as compilers and debuggers.  This is what your users will use to run Java applications.  You don't need it unless you want to test what the users will be using.
• Java Plug-In:  needed to run Java Applets that use Java technology (versions) in which the browsers (IE, Netscape, etc...) have not implement yet.  You do not use the applet tags in this case.  Use the HTMLconverter to convert the applet tag to the appropriate object tag.

Miscellaneous Reference Information (Size of Files & Browser Compatibility)

• J2SE 1.6
  Note: The JDK also contains the JRE.
  JDK -  jdk-6u3-windows-i586-p.exe - 65.64 MB
  Docs - jdk-6-doc.zip - 52.36 MB
• J2SE 1.5
  Note: The JDK also contains the JRE.
  JDK - jdk-1_5_0-windows-i586.exe - 45Meg
  Docs - jdk-1_5_0-doc.zip - 45Meg
  JRE - jre-1_5_0-windows-i586.exe
  Installs to:
  • JDK 1.3.1_01 - c:\jdk1.3.1_01
  • JDK 1.3.0 - All install to c:\jdk1.3
• J2SE 1.4
• J2SE 1.3
  • JDK 1.3.1 33Meg, Doc's 22Meg, JRE 5.2Meg
    (ex: SDK: j2sdk-1_3_1_01-win.exe, Docs: j2sdk-1_3_1-doc.zip, JRE: j2re-1_3_1-win.exe)
  • Browsers that support JDK 1.3
    • As of 9/6/01 None - best support is Netscape 6
• J2SE 1.2.2_017  (released 12/4/98)
  • J2SE 1.2.2: JDK ~21M, Doc's ~18M, JRE ~5.3M  (Will not work on Win NT 3.51)
    • 2 Downloads:  J2SE SDK (included JRE) & Docs
    • J2SE install also installs the JRE.
      • Default JRE path: c:\Program Files\JavaSoft\JRE\1.2
    • JDK Default install: C:\jdk1.2.2
    • Doc default install: c:\j2sdkee1.2.1\docs - (Note: Unzip in the c:\jdk1.2.2 directory)
  • Browsers that support JDK 1.2
    • As of 9/6/01 Netscape 6
• JDK 1.1.8_010
  • JDK ~9M, Doc's ~3.6M , JRE - ~2.7M
    JDK - didn't include the docs.  The docs was in a .zip file that you extracted.
  • Browsers that support JDK 1.1
    • IE 4.x, 5.x
    • NS 4.x
    • HotJava 3.x

Download Managers
Having Download Problems ?

Download Managers - I suggest you get a program to help in downloading large files.  Even if you get knocked of the internet, it will resume again.  I've downloaded a 500 meg file before.  They will normal be launched from your browser.

• http://www.5star-shareware.com/Internet/DownloadManagers/netzip-demon.html - Netzip Download Demon - I use this product.  This product will automaticall work with HTTP downloads only, not FTP.
• http://www.gozilla.com/ - go!zilla

FAQ about the Downloads

• What is the JRE & Java-Plug-in? 
  If your developing applets for use within your company (intranet) that need to have access to the latest releases of Java, you can point your code to use a certain runtime environment instead of the browsers JVM.  If you use this feature on the internet, your uses would have to install the JRE on there machine  (not a good idea).
  Here are some quotes from Sun.

  • "Java Plug-in software enables enterprise customers to direct applets or JavaBeans^TM on their intranet web pages to run using Sun's Java 2 Runtime Environment, Standard Edition (JRE) instead of the web browser's default virtual machine. Sun's JRE provides a Java Compatible^TM environment for today's widely adopted web browsers - that means consistency and reliability when running applets. "

  • "Write Java 2 SDK v 1.3 software-based applets today and deploy them to existing Netscape Navigator^TM or Microsoft Internet Explorer users immediately!"