I'm trying to use javac with the windows command prompt, but it's not working.
After adding the directory "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0_16\bin\" to the end of the PATH environment variable, the java command works fine, but using javac gives me the following error:
'javac' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file.
If you added it in the control panel while your command prompt was open, that won't affect your current command prompt. You'll need to exit and re-open or simply do:
set "path=%path%;c:\program files\java\jdk1.6.0_16\bin"
By way of checking, execute:
echo %path%
from your command prompt and let us know what it is.
Otherwise, make sure there is a javac in that directory by trying:
"c:\program files\java\jdk1.6.0_16\bin\javac.exe"
from the command prompt. You can also tell which executable (if any) is being used with the command:
for %i in (javac.exe) do @echo %~$PATH:i
This is a neat trick similar to the which and/or whence commands in some UNIX-type operating systems.
Windows OS searches the current directory and the directories listed in the PATH environment variable for executable programs. JDK's programs (such as Java compiler javac.exe and Java runtime java.exe) reside in directory "\bin" (where denotes the JDK installed directory, e.g., C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_xx). You need to include the "\bin" directory in the PATH.
To edit the PATH environment variable in Windows XP/Vista/7/8:
Control Panel ⇒ System ⇒ Advanced system settings
Switch to "Advanced" tab ⇒ Environment Variables
In "System Variables", scroll down to select "PATH" ⇒ Edit
(( now read the following 3 times before proceeding, THERE IS NO UNDO ))
In "Variable value" field, INSERT "c:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_xx\bin" (Replace xx with the upgrade number and VERIFY that this is your JDK's binary directory!!!) IN FRONT of all the existing directories, followed by a semi-colon (;) which separates the JDK's binary directory from the rest of the existing directories. DO NOT DELETE any existing entries; otherwise, some existing applications may not run.
Variable name : PATH
Variable value : c:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_xx\bin;[existing entries...]
After a long Google, I came to know that javac.exe will be inside JDK(C:\Program Files\Java\jdk(version number)\bin) not inside JRE (C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre7\bin) "JRE doesn't come with a compiler. It(JRE) is simply a java runtime environment. What you need is the Java development kit." in order to use compiler javac
javac will not work if you are pointing bin inside jre
In order to use javac in cmd , JDK must be installed in your system...
For javac path
path = C:\Program Files (x86)\Java\jre7\bin this is wrong
path = C:\Program Files\Java\jdk(version number)\bin this is correct
Make sure that "javac.exe" is inside your "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk(version number)\bin"
Don't get confused with JRE and JDK both are totally different
if you don't have JDK pls download from this link
or
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html
reference thread for JDK VS JRE What is the difference between JDK and JRE?
Okay this can not be the case always but many of us have done this mistake in the past and few out of those are still not aware of it, which is, every time you append a path (any path) of any environment variable, you're likely to hit the space bar right after the "semicolon" (as you normally would, after the "period" while typing in an editor).
This will create a leading space in the path e.g " C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.6.0\bin" and therefore "javac.exe" won't be found by the system.
Try the solutions here: http://techdem.centerkey.com/2009/05/javahome-command-script.html
These are much more robust to change -- like when you upgrade the JDK or JRE, since there is no hard coded path.
The quick solution (if you don't want to read the blog) is
C:\>for /d %i in ("\Program Files\Java\jdk*") do set JAVA_HOME=%i
C:\>set PATH=%PATH%;%JAVA_HOME%
You can then add these lines to a startup/login script.
I faced the exact same problem that java would work but javac would not on a cmd prompt in Windows 8.
The problem occured because I forgot to remove '>' at the end of the path name, i.e., it was like this:
C:\Program Files\Java\jdk*\bin>
where it was suppose to be like this:
C:\Program Files\Java\jdk*\bin
I was having the same problem posted in this title. Java would work, but javac would not in the Windows command prompt (cmd.exe).
For me, it was simply that I had placed a space when adding C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0\bin to the end of my %PATH% environment variable.
Remove the space between the ; and the next file path.
I appreciate this is an old question now but my solution wasn't an answer on here so posting it in case anyone else tries all the rest.
In my case, a previous install of the Java JRE (in ProgramData/Oracle/Java) had a path variable at the top of my list of path variables. The contents of that "Oracle" path had a java.exe but not a javac.exe. I added my full JDK path to the top of the list of path variables, ahead of the "Oracle" one, and it then picked up javac.exe as well as java.
for /d %i in ("\Program Files\Java\jdk*") do set JAVA_HOME=%i
set JAVA_HOME
this solution worked to me
