How to Install Java Documentation on Ubuntu 10.04 LTS Lucid Lynx

If are in the process of learning Java, or even if you are a seasoned programmer, having quick access to Java documentation is important. Learning a new programming language can be a daunting task. The differences in syntax, and the organization of the language make it seem like an insurmountable task.

The best way to start learning a language is to be able to access in documentation quickly, and be able to incorporate the information contained within your documentation into your Java program. It is best to start becoming familiar with the java.util.*, and java.io.* packages if you want to write programs in Java. The full suite of Java documentation is on line. But, suppose you do not have Internet access, and need to refer to some documentation? You need to have the Java documentation available at your finger tips, so it would be a good idea to have it available on your computer.

Where to Download Java Documentation
Here are some instructions on getting some Java documentation installed on you Ubuntu Lucid Lynx 10.04 LTS computer.

Go to http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html#docs

Download the Java SE 6 Documentation zip file from this page. It is about halfway down the page called 'Documentation.' There is a little license agreement there and if you are OK with it, go ahead and accept. It will then take you to the download page. There will be a link to the Java Documentation file. It will be called jdk-6u10-docs.zip, or something similar based on the version update. The file size is about 56 MB.

Download the file and place it in the directory of your choice. I placed it in a folder on my Desktop. Then right-click on the folder and select "Extract here." The file will unzip and create a folder called "docs." Open the "Docs" folder and then click on the index.html file to bring up the documentation for Java.

Bookmark Java Documentation
You can save the link to your web browser by using a link like this:
file:///home/user/javaDocs/docs/index.html

The pages display flawlessly in Google Chrome. The pages should also be able to display in Forefox without any problems. To make things easier, create some bookmarks throughout various parts of the documentation to keep the Java information at your fingertips.