The Java Software Development Kit (Java SDK or JDK) is
an application created by Sun Microsystems to create and modify Java programs.
This is where to start if you would like to start programming in Java.
1. Download the latest version
of the Java
JDK from Sun Microsystems.
2.
Double-click on the install file and it should open an
installer
3.
Click next,
then read and accept the license
4.
On the next
screen you will encounter some options. Just
leave these alone and click next unless you know what you are doing. (Because
this is being read it is assumed that you do not.)
5.
The next page you encounter should install (and in
some cases download) the Java Development Kit.
6.
After the installer is finished, open run by clicking
Start > Run... or by typing Windows Key + R.
7.
In the text box, type "cmd" and click
"OK".
8.
A simple window should be opened with a black
background and a text prompt. This is
called the "Command Prompt." My command prompt background is red, but
it could really be any color.
9.
After focusing the window, type "javac" and
press enter. If the prompt returns something along the lines of:
"'javac' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable
program or batch file" then continue with the next step. If it shows many
more options and lines, skip to step 15.
10.
Open the properties of "My Computer" by
either right-clicking the icon on the desktop or right-clicking Start > My
Computer. When the pop up menu opens, scroll to the bottom and
select "Properties".
11.
This should open a window named "System
Properties". Click on the "Advanced" tab and then click
"Environment Variables".
12.
Next, another window opens with a lot of confusing
sentences and letters. Double-click
on the "Path" variable on either of the option boxes. It is
recommended to edit the variable in the box "User variables for (your
username)".
13.
Once the variable is opened, a text box in yet another
window appears. Careful not to delete anything in this box. At the end
of the text box, add a semi-colon if there is not one already, and add
"C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0\bin" to the text box. This is
assuming you did not change the file path of the installation.
14.
Click "Apply" and "OK" to all the
windows you have just opened. Open
the command prompt again, while following steps 6-9 to see if that
"javac" command works.
15.
Congratulations! You
have taken your first step to starting Java programming.
- If you would
like to change the install path, this would be done by clicking the
"Change..." button on the page after the license agreement. Make
sure to save the new install path if you do this.
- If you are
still getting the "javac is not recognized..." message after
changing the Path variable, you may have to reboot your computer before
the change takes effect.
- There may not
already be a variable named "Path" in the list of variables for
your user. You can make one by clicking "new" and just adding
the path to the java installation as detailed above.
