How to compile and run a Java program from the command line?
Jul 24, 2025 am 01:37 AMYes, you can compile and run Java programs using the command line. First, make sure that the JDK is installed and verify the installation through javac -version and java -version; then create or locate the source code file ending in .java, such as HelloWorld.java; then use javac HelloWorld.java to compile and generate the .class file; finally run the program through java HelloWorld (without the .class extension) to see the output result. It is necessary to pay attention to common problems such as the class name and file name, the main method is correct, and the processing of the package structure.
Yes, you can absolutely compile and run a Java program using the command line—it's actually one of the most straightforward ways once you get the hang of it. Here's how to do it step by step.

Make Sure Java is Installed
Before you can compile or run Java code, you need to have the Java Development Kit (JDK) installed. You can check this by typing:
javac -version
If you see something like javac 17
or another version number, you're good to go. If not, you'll need to download and install the JDK from Oracle or use an open-source version like OpenJDK.

Also, make sure java
(the runtime) is available:
java -version
This confirms that you can not only compile but also run Java programs.

Write or Locate Your Java File
Java source files end with .java
. If you don't already have one, create a simple file like this:
// HelloWorld.java public class HelloWorld { public static void main(String[] args) { System.out.println("Hello, command line!"); } }
Save it as HelloWorld.java
. Make sure you know where it is—ideally, you should be in the same directory in your terminal or command prompt.
Compile the Java File
To compile your Java code into bytecode (which runs on the Java Virtual Machine), use the javac
command:
javac HelloWorld.java
If there are no errors, this will generate a new file called HelloWorld.class
in the same directory. That's the compiled version of your program.
If you see errors, double-check your code syntax or make sure the filename matches the class name exactly (including capitalization).
Run the Compiled Java Program
Once compiled, you can run the program using the java
command:
java HelloWorld
Note that you don't include the .class
extension here—just the class name.
You should see output like:
Hello, command line!
If you're working in a package structure, you'll need to adjust the command slightly and make sure your directory structure matches the package name.
A few common gotchas:
- Class name must match the file name
- The
main
method must be exactlypublic static void main(String[] args)
- If you're using a package, compile and run from the root directory of your project and include the full package name when running
That's it. Compiling and running Java from the command line is pretty straightforward once everything is set up. Just a few commands and attention to detail.
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