setting JAVA_HOME with multiple Java versions

Question

Previously when I was writing Java code, I only needed to add the javapath +"/bin" inside the path for environment variables and I had no major problems. Recently I have been self learning Spring and it insists on having JAVA_HOME environment variable.

However, I now have multiple Java versions on my pc. If I setup to that specific java version provided by spring initializer, the Spring application can start just fine. What is the recommended approach? Added the remaining java versions to the JAVA_HOME variable - ie. path_jdk_17;path_jdk_16.01;path_jdk_8; etc.* or do I change it on the fly whenever I use a different application or different Spring project? (for some reason at different points in time the spring initializer suggests different default java versions to use, I m recommended to stick with the default suggested)

*note: not sure if this is allowed, since when adding new javapath to path variable they explicitly have the button to add new items, but not really for JAVA_HOME

JAVA_HOME is not PATH-like, you can't put more than one JVM on the list. Essentially you change it on the fly - tools like sdkman do this for you. — rzwitserloot
– rzwitserloot, Commented Jul 17, 2022 at 5:53
I see, since I already installed a few Java versions, before I install sdkman, should I uninstall those before reinstalling it using sdkman? incase those Java versions etc are not in any default locations for sdkman @rzwitserloot — pebble unit
– pebble unit, Commented Jul 17, 2022 at 5:56
One more tool 😊: I recommend jEnv to handle different java versions on a system. — Timo
– Timo, Commented Jul 17, 2022 at 10:15

Soroush Shemshadi · Accepted Answer · 2022-07-17 06:14:04Z

As in the comments section, JAVA_HOME is a variable and can not have multiple values.

I agree with @Dolphin. To install SDKMan please read official documentation.

Now to install a version of Java with SDKMan.

First, list the candidates for Java available:

sdk list java

=================================================
Available Java Versions for Linux 64bit
=================================================
Vendor   | Version      | Dist | Identifier
-------------------------------------------------
Gluon    | 22.0.0.3.r17 | gln  | 22.0.0.3.r17-gln
         | 22.0.0.3.r11 | gln  | 22.0.0.3.r11-gln
GraalVM  | 22.0.0.2.r17 | grl  | 22.0.0.2.r17-grl
         | 21.3.1.r17   | grl  | 21.3.1.r17-grl
         | 20.3.5.r11   | grl  | 20.3.5.r11-grl
         | 19.3.6.r11   | grl  | 19.3.6.r11-grl
Java.net | 19.ea.10     | open | 19.ea.10-open
         | 18           | open | 18-open
         | 17.0.2       | open | 17.0.2-open
         | 11.0.12      | open | 11.0.12-open
         | 8.0.302      | open | 8.0.302-open
[...]

You can install a specific version of Java using the value in the Identifier column:

sdk install java 18-open

Alternately, you can just install the default latest version:

sdk install java

Set the version of Java for a terminal session with the use subcommand:

sdk use java 18-open

To set a version as default, use the default subcommand:

sdk default java 18-open

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