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Waving Duke

Java and Debian

Debian provides several Java implementations. Each of them have a development environment (JDK) and a runtime (known as JRE, or Java Virtual Machines JVM). Here's a list of Java environment. Just run aptitude search "?provides(java-runtime)" on your system to list available packages).

The default JRE/JDK installed in Debian isn't the same for all architecture. Check the dependency of the package default-jdk (or run apt-cache depends default-jdk on a system).

Origin

Spec.

Packages

Plugin

Free

Comments

OpenJDK

v6

JRE:openjdk-6-jre
JDK:openjdk-6-jdk

compatible:
icedtea6-plugin

yes

A GPL2 version of Sun's JDK
Available on most archs.
Installed by default where available.

OpenJDK

v7

JRE:openjdk-7-jre
JDK:openjdk-7-jdk

compatible:
icedtea-plugin

yes

Available on most archs.
The future of the OpenJDK v6.
Default Java version for Jessie

GNU's GIJ/GCJ 4.2, 4.3

v5

JRE:gij (java-gcj-compat...)
JDK:gcj

no

yes

Installed by default when openjdk is not available.

Sun Java 1.6

v6

JRE:sun-java6-jre
JDK:sun-java6-jdk

yes

no

Sun's JVM
Latest release
Available on i386 and amd64 only. No longer available in wheezy
Debian provides an helper to generate Debian packages from upstream tarballs

Understanding Java Virtual packages names

There are several virtual packages used in Debian for Java. These cover runtime compatibility and come in two flavours; headless (omits graphical interfaces) and normal. A dependency on javaX-runtime means that the package can work with any runtime which implements version X. Runtimes should provide all virtual packages which they support, so openjdk 6 provides java2-runtime, java5-runtime and java6-runtime.

Switching

Most java-related executables, multiple of which can be installed at any time, are managed by the 'alternatives' system. Instead of managing each alternative separately, you can update them all in one go with 'update-java-alternatives' from java-common

Developers - Java packaging work in Debian

general information and coordination

Work on specific application packages

TODO(wiki consolidation): maybe everything should be moved from here to Java/RequestedPackages?

User Documentation

Using Java in Debian

To install the default JRE (Java Runtime Environment) on your system, run:

apt-get install default-jre

To install the default JDK (Java Development Kit) on your system, run:

apt-get install default-jdk

See also


CategoryJava