Man page 8 : update-java-alternatives

update-java-alternatives - update alternatives for jre/sdk installations

update-java-alternatives [--jre] [--plugin] [-t|--test|-v|--verbose] -l|--list [<jname>] -s|--set <jname> -a|--auto -h|-?|--help

update-java-alternatives updates all alternatives belonging to one runtime or development kit for the Java language. A package does provide these information of it's alternatives in /usr/lib/jvm/.<jname>.jinfo.

• -l|--list [<jname>]
      List all installed packages (or just <jname>) providing information to set a bunch of java alternatives. Verbose output shows each alternative provided by the packages.
• -a|--auto
      Switch all alternatives of registered jre/sdk installations to automatic mode.
• -s|--set <jname>
      Set all alternatives of the registered jre/sdk installation to the program path provided by the <jname> installation.
• --jre
      Limit the actions to alternatives belong to a runtime environment, not a development kit.
• --jre-headless
      Limit the actions to alternatives belong to the headless part of a runtime environment.
• --plugin
      Limit the actions to alternatives providing browser plugins.
• -h|--help
      Display a help message.
• -t|--test
      Don't actually do anything, just say what would be done. The implementation status of this option is the same as for update-alternatives (not implemented).
• -v|--verbose
      Verbose output.

• /usr/lib/jvm/.*.jinfo
      A text file describing a jre/sdk installation. Consists of some variables of the form <var>=<value> and a list of alternatives of the form jre|jdk <name> <path>.

update-java-alternatives and this manual page was written by Matthias Klose <>.