How to install and use SDKMAN on Ubuntu 22.04

Introduction

In the ever-changing landscape of software development, managing multiple software development kits (SDKs) can be a daunting task. This is where SDKMAN! steps in, offering a versatile tool that simplifies the process of managing parallel versions of multiple software development kits on most Unix-based systems. This comprehensive guide aims to walk you through the steps of installing and using SDKMAN on Ubuntu 22.04, ensuring a seamless development kit management experience.

What is SDKMAN?

SDKMAN! is a version manager that provides a convenient way to install, manage, and switch between versions of software development kits, such as Java, Groovy, Scala, Kotlin, and many others. It is designed to make it easier for developers to manage their development environments, especially when working on multiple projects or when they need to test applications against different versions of the SDK.

Steps to install SDKMAN on Ubuntu 22.04

Step 1: Open terminal

Access your terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on your keyboard or searching for "Terminal" in your system's application launcher.

Step 2: Download and install SDKMAN

Enter the following command into your terminal to download and run the SDKMAN installation script:

curl -s "https://get.sdkman.io" | bash

This command fetches the installation script using curl and sends it to bash for execution. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.

Step 3: Initialize SDKMAN

To start using SDKMAN, you need to initialize it in the current shell session. Run:

source "$HOME/.sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh"

This command ensures that the SDKMAN environment is loaded in the shell.

Using SDKMAN on Ubuntu 22.04

With SDKMAN installed, you can now easily manage your development kits. Here are some common commands to get you started:

List of available SDKs

To view a list of all available SDKs, use:

sdk list

Installing an SDK

To install a specific version of an SDK (for example Java), run:

sdk install java 11.0.2-open

Replace 11.0.2-open with the version you want to install.

Switching between SDK versions

Switching between installed versions of an SDK is simple:

sdk use java 11.0.2-open

Once again, replace 11.0.2-open with the version you want to switch to.

Uninstalling an SDK

To remove an installed SDK version from your system, run:

sdk uninstall java 11.0.2-open

SDKMAN update

Keep SDKMAN and your SDKs updated by running:

sdk update

Followed by:

sdk upgrade

These commands will update the SDKMAN tool itself and will therefore update all installed SDKs to the latest versions.

Conclusion

SDKMAN! offers a powerful yet simple solution for managing multiple software development kits on Ubuntu 22.04, simplifying the process and improving productivity. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you will be well equipped to easily manage the various versions of the SDK, allowing you to focus more on development and less on setting up your environment. Happy programming!