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Monday, May 16, 2011

The java JDK and Eclipse IDE

In this post we will be installing the java JDK (java development kit, needed to run everything java.) and Eclipse IDE (Integrated development environment) for easier programming and running. We will be installing on windows.  The JDK should already be installed if you have a Mac.

Let’s get started!  First we will download the java JDK, the website is always changing so just Google java JDK download.  It should be the first one on the list, click it.  Once the page is brought up download the JDK (Make sure to get the standard edition or enterprise edition! Never get the micro edition!) Once you have run the installer wizard go into the place in which you installed it (program files or program files(x86), go into java, then click on JDK. Go into bin and right click on the first one on the list. Once right clicked click on properties and copy the location of it.

Next go into the start menu and click on control panel, system and security, and then system.
You should see on the left a panel labeled control panel home. Click on advanced system settings from this panel. From the pop up click environment variables. Under user variables click new.
This part is very important!  For the variable name you must name it:  Path
The P in path must be capitalized! Then for variable value  paste in the location directory, and click ok.  To test if it is installed correctly open command prompt and enter JAVAC.  If a bunch of stuff comes up you did it correctly!

Now to install Eclipse.  This installation is a bit simpler.  Go to http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/  
and click Eclipse IDE for Java developers, or Eclipse IDE for Java EE developers depending on what type of JDK you downloaded.  There is little difference between EE and SE so don’t freak out and download the EE because you think it’s better.
Once downloaded it should run an install wizard.  Click next a bunch and then open the eclipse exe. You might want to move this to the desktop for easy access.  To do this right click it, click send to and then click desktop. DONT DRAG AND DROP IT!
Once you open up eclipse go into window, click on preferences, type in text, click on text editors, and click the box that reads: Show line numbers
Finally click apply then ok.

Well, that wraps it up for this post, in the next one we start programming!  You may have already read the other post where we print “hey” on the screen.  Well in the next post we actually build something sort of cool.  I made the “hey” one first so you might have had trouble getting it to work because you didn’t have the JDK.    

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