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SDKMAN! - Java Version Manager

SDKMAN! is a tool for managing parallel versions of multiple Software Development Kits on most Unix-based systems. It provides a convenient way to install, switch, and manage SDKs such as Java, Groovy, Kotlin, Scala, and more.

Installing SDKMAN!

To install SDKMAN!, open your terminal and run:

brew install sdkman-cli

Configuring Your Shell

To ensure SDKMAN! works correctly, you need to add initialization to your shell profile. For Bash or Zsh, append the following lines at the end of your profile file (~/.bash_profile, ~/.bashrc, or ~/.zshrc):

#THIS MUST BE AT THE END OF THE FILE FOR SDKMAN TO WORK!!!
export SDKMAN_DIR="$HOME/.sdkman"
[[ -s "$HOME/.sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh" ]] && source "$HOME/.sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh"

After adding these lines, apply the changes with:

source ~/.bash_profile (or 'source ~/.bashrc' or 'source ~/.zshrc' depending on your shell)

You can verify that SDKMAN! is installed correctly by executing:

sdk version

Listing Available SDKs

To see all SDKs available for installation, use:

sdk list

This will display a list of candidates, versions, and whether they are installed on your system.

Listing Available Versions for a Specific SDK

To see all available versions of a specific SDK, such as Java, run:

sdk list java

This will display all Java versions you can install, along with the currently installed and default versions.

Installing a Specific SDK

To install a specific version of an SDK, use:

sdk install <candidate> <version>

Example:

sdk install java 21.0.4-tem

Installing Latest SDK

To install the latest version of an SDK, use:

sdk install <candidate>

Example:

sdk install java

Switching Between Versions

You can switch to a different installed version with:

sdk use <candidate> <version>

Example:

sdk use java 21.0.4-tem

Or set it as the default version:

sdk default <candidate> <version>

Example:

sdk default java 21.0.4-tem

Updating SDKMAN!

Keep your SDKMAN! installation up-to-date by running:

sdk update

Uninstalling SDKs

To remove an installed SDK, use:

sdk uninstall <candidate> <version>

Example:

sdk uninstall java 21.0.4-tem

Conclusion

SDKMAN! simplifies the management of multiple SDKs on your system, allowing you to install, switch, and maintain different versions effortlessly. By mastering these commands and correctly configuring your shell, you can ensure that your development environment is flexible and up-to-date.

For more detailed usage instructions, please refer to the official SDKMAN! usage guide: https://sdkman.io/usage