Tips and Tricks for dealing with Java on Linux

Using Alternatives to keep multiple Java versions Around

Installing a Java via alternatives

#!/bin/sh

# set JPATH to the the JAVA_HOME of what you are trying to isntall
JPATH=/usr/java/j2re1_5_0_06

for app in java javac javah javadoc javap jdb jar native2ascii rmic rmiregistry appletviewer serialver; do
      # Remove binaries if not alternativeszificated yet
        [ ! -L /usr/bin/$app ] && /bin/rm -f /usr/bin/$app
          # Build slaves list
            [[ "$app" != java ]] && slaves="$slaves --slave /usr/bin/$app $app $JPATH/bin/$app"
        done
echo "update-alternatives --install /usr/bin/java java $JPATH/bin/java 50 $slaves"