How do I install Java on Mac OSX allowing version switching

Question

Because OpenJDK Java is a newer release, I want to install it on Mac OSX and have it work alongside other JDKs. Currently, I downloaded the tar.gz and placed it in my path, but this is difficult to maintain.

The only other install I found that does more things automatically is the one via Homebrew cask. It appears that only the current version is available:

brew cask info java

Answer 1

With Homebrew and Jenv:

Assumption: You have a Mac and have already installed homebrew.

Install Java from the Oracle website. JDK can be installed in multiple versions. It will be installed in the following location:

 /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_202.jdk/
 /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.11.0_2.jdk/
 /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-14.0.2.jdk/

Without jenv, the system will use the most recently installed java.

You can use jenv: if you want to use/manage multiple versions.

Install and set up jenv:

$ brew install jenv
$ echo 'export PATH="$HOME/.jenv/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.zshrc
$ echo 'eval "$(jenv init -)"' >> ~/.zshrc
$ source ~/.zshrc

Add the installed java to jenv:

$ jenv add /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk1.8.0_202.jdk/Contents/Home
$ jenv add /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/14.0.2.jdk/Contents/Home

To see all the installed java:

$ jenv versions

Above command will give the list of installed java:

  system
  1.8
* 1.8.0.291 (set by /Users/lpatel/.jenv/version)
  14
  14.0
  14.0.2
  oracle64-1.8.0.291
  oracle64-14.0.2

Configure the java version which you want to use:

$ jenv global 1.8.0.291