Installing and Switching Between Java Versions on a Mac

If you're using a Mac, installing and managing multiple versions of Java can be a bit tricky. However, with Homebrew's openjdk formulae, you can easily install and switch between different Java/JVM versions on your Mac. In this article, we'll show you how to do just that.

To get started, you need to add the `javahome` function to your shell init file (usually `~/.zshrc`). This will allow you to easily switch between different Java versions in all terminal sessions. To do this, simply add the following lines to your `.zshrc` file:

```bash

alias j1.8='javahome 1.8'

alias j11='javahome 11'

alias j17='javahome 17'

```

We prefer using the `javahome` shell function rather than adding new values to the PATH environment variable. This is because it allows us to easily switch between different Java versions without having to modify our system's PATH.

When installing JDKs with Homebrew, you'll also need to add `/usr/local/opt/openjdkXX/bin` to your PATH. However, we recommend using the `javahome` function instead of modifying your PATH. This is because it provides a more flexible and convenient way to switch between different Java versions.

Now, let's talk about installing and switching between different Java versions on your Mac. You can install multiple versions of Java/JDK using Homebrew's openjdk formulae. For example, you can install OpenJDK 17 by running the following command:

```

brew install --cask openjdk@17

```

Once installed, you'll need to create a symlink to the installed JDK in order for the system Java wrappers to find it. You can do this using the following commands:

```bash

sudo ln -sfn /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/openjdk-17.jdk

```

Repeat this process for each version of Java you want to install.

To switch between different Java versions, simply use your `javahome` function. For example, if you want to switch to OpenJDK 11, you can run the following command:

```

j11

```

This will set your default Java version to OpenJDK 11.

In our experience, using multiple Java versions on a Mac can be very useful when working with different projects that require different versions of Java. By following these steps, you should be able to easily install and switch between different Java/JDK versions on your Mac.

Installing and managing multiple Java versions on a Mac can seem daunting at first, but it's actually quite straightforward once you know the right steps. In this article, we've shown you how to install and switch between different Java/JDK versions using Homebrew's openjdk formulae. By following these steps, you'll be able to easily manage multiple Java versions on your Mac and keep your development workflow running smoothly.

Java 1.8 jvm for mac