Gentle Java™ and OO Development: Lab Setup Instructions (Windows OS: Java 8 and Eclipse)

Below are the standard requirements for this course. If you have any questions or issues, please contact us.

Important Note: Student lab files are required on each computer used for the course. The links for these are not in this lab setup, and you should receive them separately.

Other notes:

It’s a good idea to keep downloaded software install files on the machines during the class in case of problems that require a re-install.
Cloning a setup is generally not a problem. If it is, we’ll mention it in the software section (for example, much of the IBM/RAD-WAS software can be problematic in this regard).

Hardware and classroom setup.

Each student and the instructor shall have a workstation that fulfills the listed requirements.

Required: Intel-compatible processor (with reasonably recent hardware).
Memory: 8GB min recommended
Disk Space: Free disk space for software installs (generally minimum 2GB)
Operating System: Windows OS (Any modern version - e.g. Windows 10. - labs have not been tested on Windows 8 variants)
Required: Zip utility. A good free one is 7-zip
Required: Adobe Acrobat Reader
Required: One of Firefox browser (https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/new/) or Chrome browser (https://www.google.com/chrome/). Edge browser is not sufficient.
Recommended: Internet access
Recommended: Class machines networked together - allows students to access a shared network directory.

Install 7-zip

We’ve found that there are sometimes problems using the built in Windows archive/zip utility. This generally has to do with long path lengths that it can’t handle. Use 7-zip to extract the labs and any software zips which we’ve found very reliable.

Can try direct download link for 64-bit install: https://www.7-zip.org/a/7z2301-x64.exe
If that doesn’t work, go to home page https://www.7-zip.org
Near the top of the page, find the download link for your bitness (probably 64 bit), and download the installer.
Execute the installer, and take all the defaults.
You can now extract zip files by right clicking on them, and selecting 7-Zip | Extract ...

Lab Files: Each student and instructor must have lab files installed (links to these files are generally sent separately via e-mail).

Extract the lab files to a location conveniently accessible to the student (e.g. C:\ )
Recommend using utility like 7-zip, not Windows built-in extractor.
If using folder other than C:\, make sure that students know where they are.

Other instructor requirements for the classroom

Projector or large screen TV capable of 1280x800 or higher resolution. Instructor must be able to use this to project slides.
Whiteboard (preferred) or flip charts with markers.

Install Java Development Kit – JDK 1.8 Update 411

Note that any relatively recent JDK1.8 version is fine.
Note that you'll need a free Oracle logon to download the JDK.
From https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/javase/javase8u211-later-archive-downloads.html find the latest Java 8 release installer file for your OS
- Windows 64 bit: e.g. jdk-8u411-windows-x64.exe (Almost certainly this is the one you want. 32-bit Windows OS installs are now rare).
Click the link for the installer file, accept the license agreement, enter your login credentials, and download the installer.
Run the installer and take all defaults.
Create or modify environment variables as appropriate for your OS. This will add an environment variable JAVA_HOME, and modify your path to include the jdk bin folder
- JAVA_HOME:
  - Right click My Computer and choose Properties > click the Advanced tab > click the Environment Variables button
  - In the bottom half of the dialog, click New to add a new System variable
  - Variable name: JAVA_HOME (this is case-sensitive)
  - Variable value: C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_411 (or adjust to the actual path where you installed the JDK and your JDK version – please double-check this path – probably best to copy and paste it)
  - Click OK
- Path:
  %JAVA_HOME%\bin;
  - Find this existing entry in the bottom half of the Environment Variables button, and click Edit
  - Click in the Variable value field and move your cursor all the way to the left (pressing Home on your keyboard should do this quickly for you)
  - Check whether the value below is already present, or add it at the beginning if necessary (make sure you get all of this, including the trailing semicolon, with no spaces):
- Click OK repeatedly (likely in 3 different dialogs) until all the dialogs close.
Open a terminal prompt type the below, and press Enter

javac -version

You should get a message that tells you the version. If the command is not found, you did something wrong.
Close the terminal prompt. You’re done installing Java

Install Eclipse Oxygen

(Version 4.7.3a or similar)

Download: Try the below direct link for the 64 bit Windows version first. It should start the download of the install file if it works.
https://www.eclipse.org/downloads/download.php?file=/technology/epp/downloads/release/oxygen/3a/eclipse-jee-oxygen-3a-win32-x86_64.zip
If the above works, you’re done with the download, and can continue with the Extract below
If the above does not work, continue with these download instructions
Go to http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/packages/eclipse-ide-java-ee-developers/oxygen3a, and download the installer file for your OS

NOTE: Look for the Download Links section in the page. Do NOT use the big Download button.
NOTE: Make sure the bitness (e.g. 64 bit) matches the bitness of your JDK. Mixing them will fail.
- Windows 64 bit: xxx-windows-x64.exe
- Windows 32 bit: xxx-win32-x86_64.zip

Extract:
- Windows: Unzip the file - Can extract to C:\, or other location convenient to student (as long as they know it, and can access it)
Test
- Execute the program (double click on the eclipse.exe executable, or a shortcut for it)
- Accept the default workspace, and let it load
- Quit Eclipse
That’s it. You’re done installing Eclipse