What is Java

According to official documentation, Java is a widely-used computer programming language characterized by cross-platform compatibility, object-oriented design, and generic programming capabilities. Its extensively employed in enterprise-level web application development and mobile application development. Originally released by Sun Microsystems in 1995, Java has evolved from humble beginnings to powering a significant portion of today's digital world by providing a reliable platform for building numerous services and applications. Future innovative products and digital services will continue to rely on Java.

Common Java Versions

Java 17, 11, and 8 are currently supported Long-Term Support (LTS) versions. Since these versions receive regular bug fixes and security patches from vendors, they have become the preferred choices for engineering development.

Version	Release Date	Final Free Public Update	End of Extended Support
Java SE 8 (LTS)	March 2014	OpenJDK currently maintained by Red HatOracle stopped updates March 2022 (commercial)Oracle stops December 2030 (non-commercial)Azul stops December 2030IBM Semeru stops May 2026Eclipse Adoptium stops May 2026 or laterAmazon Corretto stops May 2026 or later	Oracle stops December 2030Red Hat stops November 2026
Java SE 11 (LTS)	September 2018	OpenJDK currently maintained by Red HatAzul stops September 2026IBM Semeru stops October 2024Eclipse Adoptium stops October 2024 or laterAmazon Corretto stops September 2027 or laterMicrosoft stops October 2024 or later	Oracle stops September 2026Azul stops September 2026Red Hat stops October 2024
Java SE 17 (LTS)	September 2021	OpenJDK current maintained by SAPAzul stops September 2029IBM Semeru stops October 2027Microsoft stops September 2027 or laterEclipse Adoptium stops September 2027 or later	Oracle stops September 2029 or laterAzul stops September 2029Red Hat stops October 2027

Installing Java

Verifying Version Requirements

Before installing Java, verify which version your target project or application requires. For example, to run Burp Suite, consult the official documentation to determine the required Java environment. According to official docs, Burp version 2022.12.4 requires Java 17. If documentation is unavailable, installing all three common versions (8, 11, 17) allows you to switch between them as needed.

Java 8 Installation

Download

Visit the download page: https://www.java.com/zh-TW/download/ie_manual.jsp?locale=zh_TW

Select the offline installer to ensure installation works in environments without internet connectivity.

Installation

Double-click the downloaded program to start the installation.

After installation completes, open Command Prompt and enter the following command to verify the installed Java version:

java -version

Java 11 Installation

Download

Visit the Java Archive to download Java 11. This version requires an Oracle account to download from Oracle's website. Alternative distributions like Eclipse Adoptium, Amazon Corretto, or Azul Zulu provide open-source builds without account requirements.

Installation

Double-click the downloaded installer to begin the Java 11 installation.

Note the default installation path during the process, then proceed to the next step.

Open Command Prompt and verify the current Java version:

java -version

Java 17 Installation

Download

Visit the Java Archive page to download the Java 17 installer. This version typically does not require an account for direct download.

Installation

Double-click the program to start installation.

Confirm the installation path.

Open Command Prompt and verify:

java -version

Switching Between Java Versions

Accessing Environment Variables

By modifying environment variables, you can use different Java versions on the same machine.

Configure environment variables through: This PC -> Properties -> Advanced System Settings -> Advanced -> Environment Variables.

Configuring Environment Variables

First, add a new system variable with the value set to your Java installation path.

Locate the Path variable in System Variables. Remove any Java paths that were automatically added during installation.

Add the following entry:

%JAVA_HOME%\bin;

Save the settings and verify the configuration by opening Command Prompt and running java -version. If version information displays, the configuration succeeded.

Switching Scripts

Rather than manually editing system variables each time, create batch scripts to automate version switching.

Create separate .bat files in a dedicated folder, then add this folder to your system PATH.

Below are rewritten scripts with modified variable names and structure:

@echo off
set "SELECTED_JDK=C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre-1.8"
set "BINARY_DIR=%SELECTED_JDK%\bin"
set "Path=%BINARY_DIR%;%Path%"
echo Switched to Java 8.

@echo off
set "SELECTED_JDK=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-11"
set "BINARY_DIR=%SELECTED_JDK%\bin"
set "Path=%BINARY_DIR%;%Path%"
echo Switched to Java 11.

@echo off
set "SELECTED_JDK=C:\Program Files\Java\jdk-17"
set "BINARY_DIR=%SELECTED_JDK%\bin"
set "Path=%BINARY_DIR%;%Path%"
echo Switched to Java 17.

Add the script directory to your environment variables.

Verification

After completing all configurations, verify in Command Prompt:

The configuration is successful. Note that this approach sets temporary environment variables active only within the current Command Prompt session.