java-linux@java.blackdown.org FAQ: Blackdown JDK Installation Questions

3. Blackdown JDK Installation Questions

This section addresses questions about installing the Blackdown JDK.

3.1 Last Update

$Id: 03-install.sgml,v 1.1 1998/11/13 02:32:50 stevemw Exp $

3.2 Where to obtain JDK 1.02 and 1.1?

Please visit http://www.blackdown.org/java-linux/mirrors.html and select the site nearest you. Both Randy Chapman's JDK 1.02 and Steve Byrne's JDK 1.1.x are found on participating mirror sites. Check section What is the Currently-supported Version of the Blackdown JDK? for the currently supported version the Blackdown JDK.

3.3 How Do I Install the JDK?

Download the tar(1) archive for your platform as directed by the mirror list mentioned in section Where to obtain JDK 1.02 and 1.1?.
Move to an appropriate directory and for example, unpack the tar(1) archive as follows:
```
$ cd /usr/local
$ tar zxvf /tmp/jdk1.1.6.tar.gz
```

Make sure your DISPLAY environment variable is set, put the resulting directory into your execution path, and try something:

$ export DISPLAY=:0
$ export PATH=/usr/local/jdk1.1.6/bin:$PATH
$ appletviewer \
    /usr/local/jdk1.1.6/demo/awt-1.1/lightweight/OpenlookButtons/example.html

Note that the above examples assumed you were using the Bash shell, such as /bin/bash. Also note that if you already have a CLASSPATH set, you'll probably want to append .:/usr/local/jdk1.1.6/lib/classes.zip: to that environment variable. This ensures that you have the current working-directory in your class search path, and makes things much easier for you as you test your code.

Of course you may want to add these environment commands to your shell's startup script, such as $HOME/.bashrc.

Some people may wish to set JAVA_HOME themselves. That way, you can change all commands following setting that to use it instead, such as

$ export JAVA_HOME=/usr/local/jdk1.1.6
$ export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH
$ export CLASSPATH=.:$JAVA_HOME/lib/classes.zip