JOSM on macOS: how to set Java version?

Help and support
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1

Hi! I’m installing JOSM on several computers, looking for reproducibility of a failure while executing FIT plugin (JOSM crashes while opening a fit file).

FIT plugin requires Java 21. I successfully update my Windows and Ubuntu boxes to use that Java release. And also macOS to Java 22:

Last login: Thu Apr 11 13:56:21 on console
ricardorodriguez@igfae5s-MacBook-Air ~ % java -version
java version "22" 2024-03-19
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 22+36-2370)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 22+36-2370, mixed mode, sharing)
ricardorodriguez@igfae5s-MacBook-Air ~ %

But when launching JOSM on macOS, it keeps claiming that Java 17 is installed and I must update:

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image1354×1148 104 KB

In Preferences, I only find in variable related with Java that reads 17.0.10:

image
image1724×572 127 KB

Please, how can I configure JOSM on macOS to work with the Java release, installed on the system? Also, I’m not able to find where 17.0.10 is installed. I only find jdk-22:

ricardorodriguez@igfae5s-MacBook-Air ~ % sudo mdfind -name 'java' | grep '/bin/java$'
Password:
2024-04-11 14:57:27.674 mdfind[1215:29865] [UserQueryParser] Loading keywords and predicates for locale "en_US"
2024-04-11 14:57:27.675 mdfind[1215:29865] [UserQueryParser] Loading keywords and predicates for locale "en"
/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-22.jdk/Contents/Home/bin/java
ricardorodriguez@igfae5s-MacBook-Air ~ %

Thanks for your help!

4

OK. It looks like the homebrew cask is using the Java 17 package instead of the Java 21 package.

I’m going to guess that you used brew to install JOSM. I’ll open a PR to fix that in homebrew.

EDIT: PR for homebrew: josm: Use Java 21 package by tsmock · Pull Request #171165 · Homebrew/homebrew-cask · GitHub

6

It should be available now.
With that said, since the version number did not change, you may need to reinstall it. Example:

$ brew upgrade && brew uninstall josm && brew install josm

If that doesn’t work, brew is probably trying to use the cached file. In which case, this should work:

$ brew upgrade && brew uninstall josm && brew cleanup -s josm && brew install josm
2
  • You are probably running JOSM from the macOS app.
  • The macOS app was including Java 17 as a bundled dependency up until a month ago or so.

Solutions:

  1. Use the JNLP and OpenWebstart
  2. Use the jar and system java (not recommended; there are some CLI arguments that you need to add to avoid crashes in certain situations)
  3. Update the JOSM app
3

Yes! It is correct! Thanks for your answer.

Before trying option 1 as it will cause to me some headaches with other applications, I would like to understand why an update JOSM is not working. I updated recently and get same results:

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Any idea, please?

5

It is also correct. Thanks! I now understand better JOSM functioning on macOS when installed as homebrew-cask.

When must I expect to be able to get an updated JOSM cask once your PR has been already verified, please? I’m still far from understanding the homebrew-casks release cycle.

Thank you very much!