2022. Setting up Java Development Environment on Mac
JDK, Tomcat, and Eclipse

Install JDK, Apache Tomcat and Eclipse on Mac.

We will use the following free softwares/tools.

  • JDK - Java SE Development Kit, a free integrated development kit used to build, test, and deploy Java applications.
  • Apache Tomcat - An open source web server.
  • Eclipse - One of the most widely used Java IDEs.

1. Installing JDK on Mac

1.1 Downloading Oracle JDK

Download the latest version of JDK from http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html. Select JDK, in the next page, accept the license and choose ‘jdk-8u151-macosx-x64.dmg’ to download.

1.2 Installing JDK

After downloading finish, double click on the installer. Follow the wizard to install JDK. installjdk
Finally, JDK is installed to /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_151.jdk/.

1.3 Checking Java Version

$ java -version

You should be able to see the java information like below.

java version "1.8.0_151"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_151-b12)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.151-b12, mixed mode)

2. Setting up Apache Tomcat

2.1 Downloading Tomcat

Download the latest version of Tomcat from https://tomcat.apache.org/.

2.2 Installing Tomcat

There is no installer, have to configure Tomcat manually. Unzip the tar file, copy to /opt/tomcat.

$ tar xvzf apache-tomcat-9.0.1.tar.gz
$ sudo mv apache-tomcat-9.0.1 /usr/local

Create a symbolic link that we are going to use when referring to Tomcat

$ sudo ln -s /usr/local/apache-tomcat-9.0.1 /Library/Tomcat

Change ownership of the /Library/Tomcat folder hierarchy:

sudo chown -R $USER /Library/Tomcat

Make all scripts executable:

sudo chmod +x /Library/Tomcat/bin/*.sh

2.3 Starting Tomcat

Using the following commands to start and stop tomcat:

$ /Library/Tomcat/bin/startup.sh
$ /Library/Tomcat/bin/shutdown.sh

Verify that Tomcat is working by visiting http://localhost:8080. tomcat

3. Installing Eclipse

3.1 Downloading Eclipse

Download the latest version of Eclipse from https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/.

3.2 Installing Eclipse

1) Unzip the tar file. You will get one installer file named ‘Eclipse Installer’.

$ tar xvzf eclipse-inst-mac64.tar.gz

2) Double click on ‘Eclipse Installer’. Select ‘Eclipse IDE for Java EE Developers’. eclipseinstaller
Follow the wizard to finish the installation.

3.3 Starting Eclipse

Eclipse is installed to ‘/Users//eclipse/jee-oxygen', run following command to launch Eclipse.

$ open ~/eclipse/jee-oxygen/Eclipse.app

Set workspace. eclipseworkspace
Close the welcome page, you will get Eclipse ready for use. eclipselaunched

4. References