Java Environment Setup

Before you can start coding in Java, you need to set up the right environment. This includes installing the Java Development Kit (JDK), configuring the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), and setting up the PATH variable so you can run Java programs from the command line.

To compile and run any Java program, you must first install and configure the Java Compiler and the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) on your system.
For this purpose, Java provides the JDK (Java Development Kit), which includes both the compiler and runtime.
You can download the JDK from the official Oracle website or OpenJDK distributions.
Choose the installer according to your system configuration (32-bit or 64-bit).
After downloading, install it. The installation process is similar to other software installations.
Once installed, you must set the PATH environment variable to access the Java compiler from the command line.
The path setting process varies depending on your operating system (Windows, Linux, macOS, etc.).

How to Set Java Path on Windows

Step 1: Check the JDK installation directory and copy the \bin path.
Default location: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_25\bin
Step 2: Right-click on My Computer → Properties.
Step 3: Click on Advanced system settings.
Step 4: Click on the Environment Variables... button.
Step 5: In the User Variables section, add or edit the PATH variable.
Paste the copied JDK path in the value box. If PATH already exists, append the new value at the end separated by a semicolon (;).
Note: Do not delete existing values. Only add the JDK path at the end.
Step 6: Verify the path setup.
Open Command Prompt (Windows + R → type cmd) and run:
javac -version If installed correctly, it will display the installed Java compiler version.