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Java

There have been great changes to Java in the last few years. Java 11 is the current ``long term support'' version and ALMA now uses this when building its Java-based software tools. Unfortunately, Java 11 doesn't include the previously standard installation method (Web Start) and so this is no longer available. A new installer based on InstallAnywhere has been developed that should continue to offer a more user-friendly and automatic installation to that offered by the ``tarball'' approach.

As the new installer contains a Java distribution, it is no longer be necessary to have Java 11 installed on your machine. However, a tarball download without Java will also be made available and, if so, the situation is unchanged from before i.e. a fully functioning Java Runtime Environment (JRE) must be installed and only Java 11 will work correctly.

If a version of Java has been installed by the user, its version number can be checked by typing java -version on the command line, the output of which should look something like this:

java version "1.8.0_271"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_271-b09)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.271-b09, mixed mode)
The number that follows the underscore refers to the update of the Java version that has been installed. When reporting a problem with the OT, the full version number including the update should be reported.

It may be possible to work with two different user-installed versions of Java (i.e. 8 and 11) and switching between these.


next up previous contents
Next: Supported Platforms Up: System Requirements Previous: System Requirements   Contents
The ALMA OT Team, 2022 Mar 04