macOS: JAVA_HOME environment Setup

Leo N
4 min readSep 13, 2021

Setting up the JAVA_HOME environment variable on macOS is essential for running Java-based applications and development tools effectively. In this guide, we'll walk you through the step-by-step process of configuring JAVA_HOME on your macOS system. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced developer, this tutorial will ensure that your Java environment is properly set up, enabling you to run Java applications, compile code, and use development tools seamlessly. Follow along to avoid common pitfalls and optimize your macOS for Java development.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the JDK installed on your macOS system. If you don’t have it installed yet, you can download it from the Oracle website or use a package manager like Homebrew.

1. What is Java Home?

JAVA_HOME is an environment variable used by many Java-based applications and tools to locate the Java Development Kit (JDK) installation on your system. It points to the directory where the JDK is installed, allowing applications to find and use Java components like the Java compiler (javac), runtime (java), and other tools.

Here’s why setting JAVA_HOME is important:

  1. Consistency: It ensures that various applications and development tools that require Java can find…

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Leo N
Leo N

Written by Leo N

🇻🇳 🇸🇬 🇲🇾 🇦🇺 Engineer @ GXS Bank, Singapore | MSc 🎓 | Technical Writer . https://github.com/nphausg

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