Before you start developing in Java, download and install a standalone JDK build.ĭue to the changes in the Oracle Java License, you might not have the rights to use Oracle's Java SE for free. The bundled JRE is used for running the IDE itself, and it's not sufficient for developing Java applications. The JRE can be obtained separately from the JDK, but it's not suitable for application development, as it doesn't have essential components such as compilers and debuggers. A JDK is a software package that contains libraries, tools for developing and testing Java applications (development tools), and tools for running applications on the Java platform (Java Runtime Environment - JRE). To develop applications in IntelliJ IDEA, you need a Java SDK (JDK). If you want a module to inherit a project SDK, select the Project SDK option from the Module SDK list.

If the necessary SDK is already defined in IntelliJ IDEA, select it from the Module SDK list. Select the module for which you want to set an SDK and click Dependencies. In the next dialog, specify the JDK vendor, version, change the installation path if required, and click Download.įrom the main menu, select File | Project Structure | Project Settings | Modules. Only for JDKs: If you don't have the necessary JDK on your computer, select Add SDK | Download JDK. If the SDK is installed on your computer, but not defined in the IDE, select Add SDK | 'SDK name', and specify the path to the SDK home directory. If the necessary SDK is already defined in IntelliJ IDEA, select it from the SDK list. In the next dialog, specify the JDK vendor, version, change the installation path if required, and click Download.įrom the main menu, select File | Project Structure | Project Settings | Project. Only for JDKs: if you don't have the necessary JDK on your computer, select Download JDK.

To add an SDK, click, select the necessary SDK and specify its home directory in the dialog that opens. Configure global SDKsįrom the main menu, select File | Project Structure | Platform Settings | SDKs. This folder is called an SDK home directory. To define an SDK means to let IntelliJ IDEA know in which folder on your computer the necessary SDK version is installed.

Java 8 open jdk