Java

This guide introduces the reader to Java and explains how to use Java with Gentoo Linux.

Overview
Java is a programming language developed by engineers of Sun Microsystems. The language is object-oriented and designed to run on multiple platforms without the need of recompiling code for each platform. Although Java can be compiled as a native program, much of Java's popularity can be attributed to its portability, along with other features such as garbage collection. To make platform independence possible the Java compiler compiles the Java code to an intermediate representation called "Java bytecode" that runs on a JRE (Java Runtime Environment) and not directly on the operating system.

In order to run Java bytecode, one needs to have a JRE (Java Runtime Environment) installed. A JRE provides core libraries, a platform dependent Java Virtual Machine, plugins for browsers, among other things. A JDK (Java Development Kit) adds programming tools, such as a bytecode compiler and a debugger.

The choices
Gentoo provides numerous Java Runtime Environments (JREs) and Java Development Kits (JDKs). The current choices include:

Installing a JRE/JDK
To install the profile's default JDK run:

To install the profile's default JRE run:

Some JDKs and JREs, including the Oracle packages, require accepting an End User License Agreement, or EULA. If its license (such as dlj-1.1) is not listed in the ACCEPT_LICENSE variable (found in ), then the JDK/JRE will be unable to be installed. For more information on how to add acceptable licenses to read the Licenses chapter of the Portage Handbook.

To avoid any restrictive license hassle, consider installing icedtea-bin, which is an open Java implementation from the OpenJDK project.

Installing IcedTea GCJ Virtual Machine
The Icedtea virtual machine is provided in source code and requires compilation by a Java bytcode compiler. A chicken and the egg syndrome exists in that you need a compiled compiler to compile the source code into a compiler. What came first the Chicken or the Egg?

Regardless, the solution has been to add a frontend to the GCC Gnu Compiler for C which when the C is changed for the J is called Gnu Compiler for Java.

This is enabled in the GCC for use by adding the USE flag to your make.conf:

Then update world with the new use option:

After this it is pretty strait forward to install IcedTea now that you have the compiler enabled and built into your GCC so just emerge IcedTea.

As you can see there is no need for pre-compiled binary blobs or fetch restricted packages when installing IceTea with the above method. If you prefer to use the fetch restricted or IcedTea-bin or headless installation methods then these are described bellow.

Installing fetch-restricted virtual machines
Some of the JDKs and JREs require a few extra steps in their configurations. Emerge the packages as normal. If additional steps are required the ebuilds will provide instruction for the user on where to go and what to download.

Download the indicated file(s) into Once the files are in the right directories, rerun the  command, at which point the JRE/JDK will be begin to install.

Setting up a headless JRE
Sometimes there is no need for a full JRE with all the capabilities of java. Using java on a server often does not require any GUI, graphical, sound or even printer related features. To install a simplified (sometimes also referred to as headless) JRE, a few USE flags need to be changed.

Depending on the current Gentoo profile, this might already be the case. As usual, the USE flag settings that are applicable to a particular package can be checked by running in pretend mode:

Overview
Gentoo has the ability to have multiple JDKs and JREs installed without causing conflicts.

Using the tool with root privileges, a system-wide default java virtual machine (VM) can be set. Users can also use java-config to custom set their personal VM on a user-by-user basis.

Setting a default virtual machine
Running the command with the   option will output a list of all JREs and JDKs installed on the system. Here is an example of the output:

The * indicates this is the current active JVM (system-vm or user-vm when set). The name in the brackets ([]) is the handle or ID for that particular VM. The handle or the number to can be used to set the VM. The following text provides an example of how to set the system VM.

Setting the system VM by handle (preferred):

Alternate method: select VM by number handle number:

As a regular user, use java-config.

Build only VM
Some virtual machines are flagged as build-only due to being EOL and/or containing security vulnerabilities. These virtual machines will not automatically be used by Gentoo for the running of applications using Gentoo launchers (run-java-tool script designed for switching VMs), but will still be available for use by Gentoo's build environment as some packages may require them for building. The setting of these virtual machines as either the system or user VM is strongly discouraged as these VMs will then be used when running the executables, as well as used by any packages not using Gentoo's launcher scripts.

Setting a default CLASSPATH
can also be used to set a system-wide default CLASSPATH, as well a user-specific default CLASSPATH.

First, list available Java libraries installed on the system to possibly put in the CLASSPATH variable. Here is an example of output:

Again, the names in brackets ([]) are the IDs to pass to. Here is an example:

Update the environment by logging out, then in again or by typing

For users, java-config --set-user-classpath will create, which should then source from the shell's profile.

If desiring a system wide or user default classpath add something like the following to the shell's profile. This is advised against:

Java browser plugins
The Java browser plugin used to be managed via. This has now been removed in favor of a simpler out-of-the-box experience. For basic usage, simply emerge the chosen JVM with the  USE flag enabled. Note that Oracle's plugin is only available for and.

Also note that Chromium-based browsers no longer support NPAPI-based plugins since the code was removed in September 2015. The list of supporting browsers is shrinking but still includes Firefox as of version 46.

For more information, including JVM selection, Web Start, and multilib, see the README installed with icedtea-web.

Setting USE flags
For more information regarding USE flags, refer to the USE flags chapter from the Gentoo Handbook.

USE flags

 * The flag adds support for Java in a variety of programs;
 * The flag adds support for Mozilla-like browsers (including Firefox). This is needed for viewing Java applets in a Mozilla-like browser;
 * The flag adds support for the Java Cryptography Engine;

Following USE flags go in JAVA_PKG_IUSE.
 * The flag installs a zip of the source code of a package. This is traditionally used for IDEs to 'attach' source to the libraries that are being use;
 * For Java packages, the flag will build API documentation using javadoc.

External resources

 * The gentoo-java, gentoo-user, and gentoo-dev mailing list archives
 * and on IRC
 * Java 7 and bootstrapping icedtea on the Gentoo forums

More information can be found offline:



For suggestions or questions regarding this document, please email the Gentoo Java team: