A simple step by step guide to installing Java on your windows machine so you can start developing in Java.
Step 1) Check that you have java installed.
In my case I know I want to do JavaEE 8 development, so will require JavaSE 8 as a minimum so will make sure I have that installed and on my path before I install eclipse. In the windows search bar, type cmd and then click on cmd to bring up the command prompt. Then at the command prompt type java – version. I
This give me a Java SE 8 environment. But lets get the latest Java SE 8 from https://adoptopenjdk.net/. I choose OpenJDK 8 Hotspot.
Click latest release and download and install that.
If we now bring up the command prompt and do java -version again, we can confirm that we have the latest version installed.
Step 2) Install eclipse.
Go to https://www.eclipse.org/ and click the download button in the top right
Step 3) Click on “Download Packages” (text link underneath Download x86_64)
We will setup the package ourselves rather than worry about the installer.
Step 4) Click on the relevant package for the environment you are in.
If you are just developing in java, and want the minimal IDE, choose the “Eclipse IDE for Java Developers”. If you are doing enterprise java development, JavaEE 8 or web development with java, choose “Eclipse IDE for Enterprise Java and Web Developers”.
Step 5) Click the download link
In my case im on windows, so click Windows x86_64.
Step 6) On the download mirror page, click “Download”
Step 7) Once the download completes, click “Show in folder”.
Move the zip file to whereever you want to run eclipse from. I usually have a development folder so I can keep all my development work in one place so its easy to find.
Step 8) Unpack the zip file.
Step 9) Navigate into the unpacked folder, and then into “eclipse”.
You will see the main eclipse application icon. If your on windows, drag that icon to your taskbar and you can start eclipse from there easily every time.
Step 10) Click on the eclipse icon to start it.
You will see the eclipse splashscreen and then eclipse will start up.
Step 11) Select your workspace
Eclipse will want you to specify your workspace, which is where your project code, and the various eclipse settings etc will be store. Choose something convenient to you, or if its your first time just accept the defaults and Launch, and eclipse will build the initial workspace for you and then start up in it and you will get the welcome screen.
Close the welcome screen, and you will see the main Eclipse IDE view. Well done.
