Get Started with Java Development on your Raspberry Pi in a Few Easy Steps

A step-by-step guide on how to install Java on Raspberry Pi and start developing your very own Java applications. …

Updated October 19, 2023

A step-by-step guide on how to install Java on Raspberry Pi and start developing your very own Java applications.

Introduction

Java is one of the most popular programming languages in use today, with millions of developers worldwide using it for web development, app development, and more. If you want to start developing your own Java applications on a Raspberry Pi, this guide will show you how to install Java and get started with Java development on your Raspberry Pi.

Prerequisites

Before we begin installing Java on Raspberry Pi, make sure that you have the following:

A Raspberry Pi device (model 3B or above)
An SD card preloaded with Raspbian OS (Raspberry Pi OS)
Power supply and peripherals (keyboard, mouse, monitor, etc.)
Internet connection for your Raspberry Pi

Step 1: Update and Upgrade Your System

The first step in installing Java on Raspberry Pi is to ensure that the system is up to date. Open a terminal window by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T and enter the following commands:

sudo apt update
sudo apt upgrade

These commands will download the latest package lists and install any updates available for your system.

Step 2: Install Java JDK (Java Development Kit)

Next, we need to install the Java Development Kit on our Raspberry Pi. The JDK includes tools and libraries required for developing Java applications. Run the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt-get install openjdk-11-jdk

This will download and install Java 11 (the current Long Term Support version) on your Raspberry Pi. You can replace 11 with a different number if you want to install a different version of Java.

Step 3: Verify the Installation

To verify that Java has been installed correctly, run the following command in your terminal:

java -version

You should see output similar to this:

openjdk version "11.0.9" 2020-10-20
OpenJDK Runtime Environment (build 11.0.9+11-Raspbian-armhf)
OpenJDK Server VM (build 11.0.9+11-Raspbian-armhf, mixed mode, sharing)

This confirms that Java is installed and ready to use on your Raspberry Pi.

Step 4: Set the JAVA_HOME Environment Variable

To ensure that Java applications can find the Java installation, you need to set the JAVA_HOME environment variable. Open the .bashrc file in your home directory using a text editor like nano:

nano ~/.bashrc

Add the following line at the end of the file:

export JAVA_HOME=/usr/lib/jvm/java-11-openjdk-armhf

Replace 11 with the version of Java you installed in Step 2 if necessary. Save and exit the file by pressing Ctrl + X, then Y, and finally, Enter.

Step 5: Install a Text Editor (Optional)

Although you can use the terminal to write your Java code, it’s much more convenient to use a text editor like VSCode or Sublime Text. If you want to install one of these editors, run the following command in your terminal:

sudo apt-get install code

This will install Visual Studio Code on your Raspberry Pi. You can replace code with sublime-text if you prefer Sublime Text.

Step 6: Write a Java Program

Now that you have Java installed and a text editor set up, it’s time to write your first Java program! Create a new file called HelloWorld.java and add the following code:

public class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, World!");
    }
}

Save the file and compile it using the command:

javac HelloWorld.java

This will generate a HelloWorld.class file in your current directory. Finally, run the program by executing:

java HelloWorld