Ubuntu Linux Install Sun Java Development Kit ( JDK ) and Java Runtime Environment ( JRE )

Q. How do I install Sun Java Development Kit (JDK) and Java Runtime Environment (JRE) under Ubuntu Linux? It appears that there are multiple JRE installed by default under Ubuntu. How do I select and use Sun JRE only? Can you explain steps required to set the environment to run java programs or apps?

A. Ubuntu Linux 7.10 has following packages from Sun:
=> sun-java6-bin : Sun Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6

=> sun-java6-demo : Sun Java Development Kit (JDK) 6 demos

=> sun-java6-jdk : Sun Java Development Kit (JDK) 6

=> sun-java6-jre : Sun Java Runtime Environment (JRE) 6

Install Sun Java 6

To install proprietary Java, you must have the Multiverse repository enabled. Click on System > Administration > Software Source > Select Multisource > Close

Open a shell prompt (terminal) and type the following to install JDK and JRE:

$ sudo apt-get install sun-java6-bin sun-java6-jre sun-java6-jdk

Setup the default Java version

Ubuntu Linux comes with update-java-alternatives utility to updates all alternatives belonging to one runtime or development kit for the Java language. To select, Sun's JVM as provided in Ubuntu 7.10, enter:

$ sudo update-java-alternatives -s java-6-sun

You also need to edit a file called /etc/jvm. This file defines the default system JVM search order. Each JVM should list their JAVA_HOME compatible directory in this file. The default system JVM is the first one available from top to bottom. Open /etc/jvm

$ sudo vi /etc/jvm

Make sure /usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun is added to the top of JVM list

/usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun

At the end your file should read as follows:
/usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun
/usr/lib/jvm/java-gcj
/usr/lib/jvm/ia32-java-1.5.0-sun
/usr/lib/jvm/java-1.5.0-sun
/usr

Save and close the file.

Setup the environment variable

You also need to setup JAVA_HOME and PATH variable. Open your $HOME/.bash_profile or /etc/profile (system wide) configuration. Open your .bash_profile file:

$ vi $HOME/.bash_profile

Append following line:

export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-6-sun
export PATH=$PATH:$JAVA_HOME/bin

Save and close the file.

Test your new JDK

Type the following command to display version:

$ java -version

Output:

java version "1.6.0_03"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.6.0_03-b05)
Java HotSpot(TM) Server VM (build 1.6.0_03-b05, mixed mode)

Try HelloWorld.java - first java program

$ vi HelloWorld.java

Append code:

public class HelloWorld { public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println("Hello, World!"); } }

Save and close the file. Compile HelloWorld.java and execute program by typing following two instructions:
$ javac HelloWorld.java
$ java HelloWorld

Output:

Hello, World!