Software Installation Instructions for COP2800
Ballinger, May 28, 2010

Installation instructions for typical Windows systems. All software listed below also has versions and installation instructions for Linux and Macintosh systems. The only caveat is that at the time of this writing Java 6 was not yet available for Mac Leopard. This is not a problem since all course code is compatible with Java 5.0 (also called 1.5).

Contents
Sun Java JDK — Sun Java Documentation — BlueJ — JEdit

Java SE Development Kit (JDK) 6.0 -- This must be installed!   
(Java 5.0 or later is required for this course, Windows Vista or Windows 7 users need Java 6.0 or later)

Although we may not use Netbeans this semester, I suggest you download and install the JDK 6 with NetBeans bundle. Netbeans is a professional level IDE with many advanced features.

File:jdk-6u20-nb-6_8-windows-ml.exe, 139.51 MB, as of 5/28/2010
URL :http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp (choose the version for your OS)

Mac Users: visit the Apple Mac OS X Java Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) for developers (http://developer.apple.com/java/faq/) site. Macs come with Java pre-installed but you should read this over.

Linux Users: Although Sun offers installation instructions on the download site above, this site offers more step by step instructions: http://www.unix-tutorials.com/go.php?id=4023 .

  1. Check the web site to get the current version -- you do not need JavaFX. If you wish to save space or time you do not need the Netbeans bundle but you must download the JDK.
  2. Installation instructions are also available on the java.sun.com website -- check to be sure there are no last minute changes
  3. Create a system restore point Online instructions often skip this step -- do it! In can prevent headaches in case you make a mistake setting the Environment Variables
    1. Start – Programs – Accessories – System Tools – System Restore
    2. Select Create a restore point, click next
  4. A simple installer, accept the defaults. It may take a while for the installer to begin.

    5. Have you created a restore point? If not go back to step 3!

  5. Add C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0\bin to the PATH environment variable. (note: this will change with new releases)
    1. Right click on My Computer
    2. Choose Properties
    3. Click the Advanced tab (XP) or the Advanced System Settings link (Vista and later)
    4. Click Environment Variables button
    5. In bottom window (labeled System variables) scroll down and select Path
    6. Leaving the Environment Variables window open, use a Windows Explorer window to navigate to C:\Program files\java\jdk1.6.0_0\bin. Copy this path onto the clipboard from the address bar in the Windows Explorer window.
    7. Return to the Environment Variables window
    8. Double check that you have selected “Path” (not ClassPath, etc), click the Edit button.Be very careful not to erase or overwrite any existing path
      At the very end of the existing path (be sure you have used the right arrow key to scroll to the end), type a semi-colon and paste the path (C:\Program files\java\jdk1.6.0\bin) that you copied from windows explorer
           It should look like:
               .....existing path info ……;C:\Program files\java\jdk1.6.0_??\bin
      (note your path will be different because of version numbers --for example currently mine is C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jdk1.6.0_18\bin
    9. Check your work then click OK.
    10. Click OK.

    Here is a nice video showing this process, however be sure to create a System Restore Point before beginning.

J2SE 6.0 Documentation

This should be installed; otherwise you will need a live high-speed internet connection whenever you are programming.

File: jdk-6u18-docs.zip, 56.3 MB as of 5/28/2010
URL: http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index.jsp (scroll down the page)

  1. Check the web siteto get the current version.
  2. A zip file, decompress
  3. Move the docs folder into C:\Program Files\Java\ . Sometimes unzipping generates extra nesting folders; be sure that the docs folder you are moving contains an index.html file and five folders. Actually you can place it anywhere you want; however, I find it useful to put it in this location.
  4. Delete the empty folders created by unzipping.
  5. Recommended step
    1. Navigate to C:\Program Files\Java\docs\api
    2. Right-click on index.html and choose send to desktop (create shortcut)
    3. Rename the new shortcut on your desktop to Java APIs

BlueJ -- An IDE we will be start using in the 2nd or 3rd week of the course.

File: BlueJ version 3.0.0  (as of 6/08/2010)
URL: http://www.bluej.org/ 

  1. Check web site for upgrades: We want Official Release version not Development version
  2. A simple installer. Accept the defaults.
  3. The installer will install the executable bluej.exe. Execute this to run BlueJ.
  4. If you have more than one Java version installed, BlueJ will let you select your preferred version the first time it is executed. (Choose the version installed above)
  5. Tools – Preferences – Editor
    1. Check Show line numbers
  6. Tools – Preferences – Miscellaneous
    1. Check Show unit testing tools
  7. Close BlueJ

JEdit4.3 -- Optional

This is a programmer's text editor that is useful for small projects. It is a major step above notepad but is much simpler and does not impose the directory structure of the full-scale IDEs. Recommended if you do not already have Notepadd++. TextPad or some other programmer's text editor.

File: jedit4.3.2install.exe (as of 5/28/2010)
URL: http://www.jedit.org/index.php?page=download  

  1. Check web site for upgrades: Download the Stable version (4.3.2 as of 5/28/2010) not the Development version -- you may need to scroll down to find it. Choose the Windows Installer
  2. A simple installer. Accept the defaults or you may choose not to install the API’s in order to save space.
  3. Open JEdit
  4. From the Plugins menu, choose Plugins Manager
    1. Click the Download Options button at the bottom of the screen
      1. Select JEdit application directory radio button (allows all users access to plugins)
      2. Click the Update mirror list button
        In computing, a mirror is an exact copy of a data set. Mirror sites are most commonly used to provide multiple sources of the same information, and are of particular value as a way of providing reliable access to large downloads. See wikipedia for more.
      3. Select a North American mirror
      4. Click Apply then OK
    2. Click the Install Tab
      1. Select the Console plug-in. (note: it will automatically select additional plugins that it may need)
      2. Click the Install button
        1. Possible errors
          1. Mirror not responding or similar -- fix by repeating above steps and selecting a different mirror.
          2. Access denied to application directory -- fix by installing the plug-ins in the settings directory which will only be available to the current user -- for home users this is probably the best or if you want multiple users to use the plug-ins, eixt JEdit, right-click on the program and then "Run as Administrator"
      3. Close the dialog box
  5. From the Plugins menu, choose Plugins Options
    1. Select Console
    2. Choose Compile & Run from the drop down list
      1. Scroll through the list of modes to find java and select javac as the compiler
    3. Optional
      1. Toolbar Options enable the toolbar and the languages you want to support.
        (For on-campus installations please enable toolbar and select only the java and javac buttons)
    4. Click Apply then OK
  6. Close JEdit

NetBeans

This one of the top three full-scale professional IDEs for Java. If you did not install the JDK and NetBeans bundle you can choose to install NetBeans at a later time

URL : http://www.netbeans.org/