Setting up your development environment

Use the following steps to set up your local environment for developing and deploying your App Engine services:

1. Install the latest release of Java.

   See the latest Java Runtime or Java 8 Runtime for details, or see Custom Runtimes for information about using other Java versions.

2. Install and initialize the gcloud CLI for deploying and managing your apps. If you already have the gcloud CLI installed and initialized, run the gcloud components update command to update to the latest release.

   By downloading, you agree to be bound by the Terms that govern use of the gcloud CLI for App Engine.

3. Install the gcloud component that includes the App Engine extension for Java.

   If you used the apt or yum package managers to install the gcloud CLI, use those same package managers to install the gcloud component.

   Otherwise, use the following command:

   gcloud components install app-engine-java

Optional tools:

• Install Git for access to code, samples, libraries, and tools in the Google Cloud GitHub repository.

• Install Java tools. You can use the Maven or Gradle plugins to build, deploy, and manage your Java apps:

  • Apache Maven and the App Engine Plugin
  • Gradle and the App Engine Plugin

• Install an IDE or editor to develop Java apps. Popular editors include:

  • IntelliJ IDEA and/or Webstorm by JetBrains

    Use the Google-sponsored plugin for IntelliJ for access to helpful functions within the IntelliJ editor.

  • Atom by GitHub

    These editors (sometimes with the help of plugins) give you everything from syntax highlighting, intelli-sense, and code completion to fully integrated debugging capabilities.