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Java development tools on WSL2

Last update: 7 Mar 2023

If you want to develop Java applications using WSL2 and VSCode, you need to install all required tools on the WSL Linux distribution (not on Windows!):

  • The JDK
  • Maven or Gradle
  • Maybe Groovy

SDKMan

I usually install SDKMan! to have Java development tools installed: the JDK, Maven...

SDKMan lets you install several versions of the same tool like, for example, different JDK releases, and decide which version to use for a specific project or terminal.

For example:

sdk use java 8.0.352-tem

set the current JDK to the Temurin 8.0.352. The JDK should be first installed with the command:

sdk install java 8.0.352-tem