A question about Java on Slackware 64 bit
 

As per the instructions I've downloaded the newest verions of the jke (currently version jdk-7u13-linux-x64.tar.gz).

Followed the instructions without problem and everything installs correctly. However even after a reboot it will not find java when I type "which java".

I have gone ahead and simply added /usr/lib64/java/bin to my /etc/profile file and this resolved the issue.

I had two questions: I'm assuming the reason it's not being properly added has something to do with the java package from oracle. Is this the case and how would I confirm this?

Secondly as someone fairly new to linux are there any inherent risk in adding /usr/lib64/java/bin to my /etc/profile file? Would it have been better to add it to a local .bashrc?

Thanks for any replies

The usual way the /etc/profile is handled is that there is /etc/profile.d/ which packages can dump a file in and add it to the profile automatically. This is usually where $PATH adjustments are made. If you uninstall the package, the adjustment comes out again. The sky won't fall in because you made one path adjustment in /etc/profile. But if you subsequently need to change the path, remember it's there.

Your link isn't working for me.

Did you use the java.SlackBuild as found in the /extra/source/java directory of your installation disk?

Correct link is http://docs.slackware.com/howtos:software:java

The cause of the original problem is most likely that A.Slacker downloaded the java.SlackBuild file but not all the rest of the files in that same directory. All the files are needed in order to produce a working Java package.

Eric

Hey Alien Bob, you are correct. I only copied the java.Slackbuild file but not all the rest of the files from the same directory. I did not see the remark indicating that you needed to copy all the files from the directory.

Thanks for taking the time to answer and for the fix!

A.Slacker