Switching between two java versions on Windows

Question

Currently I have a java project where I should support different version of it, which use different version of Java (and some tools, like Ant). Depends on issue tickets I need to handle both java version (7 and 8) and pretty often switch between them. Can someone suggest the best way to handle it easier? I'm working on Windows 7, so I wrote such bat-file for switching ("switch_java.bat"):

@ECHO OFF
set changeToNewVersion=%1

IF "%changeToNewVersion%"=="true" (
    setx /M ANT_HOME "c:\Program Files\Ant\apache-ant-1.9.4"
    setx /M JAVA_HOME "c:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_51"
) ELSE IF "%changeToNewVersion%"=="false" (
    setx /M ANT_HOME "c:\Program Files\Ant\apache-ant-1.8.3"
    setx /M JAVA_HOME "c:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_79"
) ELSE (
    echo ERROR: Enter key!
)

But maybe there is more optimal solution?

Answer 1

There is a Github tool for windows. I'm using it myself and it's really nice.
The maintainer is normally responding very fast if you have a problem

Usage (Note: local overwrites change. use overwrites local)

1. Add a new Java environment (requires absolute path)
   jenv add <name> <path>
   Example: jenv add jdk15 D:\Programme\Java\jdk-15.0.1

2. Change your java version for the current session
   jenv use <name>
   Example: jenv use jdk15
   Environment var for scripting:
   ---PowerShell: $ENV:JENVUSE="jdk17"
   ---CMD/BATCH: set "JENVUSE=jdk17"

3. Clear the java version for the current session
   jenv use remove
   Example: jenv use remove
   Environment var for scripting:
   ---PowerShell: $ENV:JENVUSE=$null
   ---CMD/BATCH: set "JENVUSE="

4. Change your java version globally
   jenv change <name>
   Example: jenv change jdk15

5. Always use this java version in this folder
   jenv local <name>
   Example: jenv local jdk15

6. Clear the java version for this folder
   jenv local remove
   Example: jenv local remove

7. List all your Java environments
   jenv list
   Example: jenv list

8. Remove an existing JDK from the JEnv list
   jenv remove <name>
   Example: jenv remove jdk15

9. Enable the use of javac, javaw or other executables sitting in the java directory
   jenv link <Executable name>
   Example: jenv link javac

10. Uninstall jenv and automatically restore a Java version of your choice
    jenv uninstall <name>
    Example: jenv uninstall jdk17

11. Automatically search for java versions to be added
    jenv autoscan ?<path>?
    Example: jenv autoscan "C:\Program Files\Java"
    Example: jenv autoscan // Will search entire system

https://github.com/FelixSelter/JEnv-for-Windows