Installing the JDK

Overview

The Java Development Kit - also known as the JDK - is required in order to develop Sponge plugins and/or work on Sponge itself.

Download

Before installing the JDK, uninstall any older versions of Java that are present on your computer.

Note

We recommend using Java 7 for development. If you are adventurous, Java 8 is an option; however, many Minecraft servers have not yet migrated to Java 8. Avoid using Java 6, as Java 6 is outdated.

Oracle provides free downloads of the Java Development Kit on their website. Ensure that you are installing the JDK (Java Development Kit), not the JRE (Java Runtime Environment). There is a difference between the two.

Upon completion of the installation process, reboot your computer. The JDK should then be ready for use.

Track Continuation

If you are following a track in Preparing for Development, your next step is: