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Oracle SQL Developer 26.2 is the current release as of August 16, 2026 (released July 14, 2026). On Ubuntu, install a 64-bit JDK 17, download Oracle’s Linux RPM, install it with Ubuntu’s rpm utility, and start sqldeveloper.sh. The RPM is a client application: it does not install Oracle Database, and you still need access to a database to create a connection.
This procedure targets 64-bit Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS desktop systems with a graphical session. Other Ubuntu versions may work, but check the release-specific notes at Oracle’s SQL Developer download page.
What SQL Developer installs
SQL Developer is Oracle’s Java-based graphical IDE for browsing schemas, writing SQL and PL/SQL, running scripts, managing database objects, and saving database connections. It is different from the server software:
- SQL Developer: the desktop client installed in this guide.
- Oracle Database: the server to which the client connects; it is not installed here.
- SQLcl: Oracle’s command-line SQL tool.
- SQL Developer for VS Code: a separate extension-based option.
SQL Developer is available under Oracle’s license. “Free” does not mean that an Oracle Database, cloud service, or commercial Oracle support is included.
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Prerequisites and version check
- 64-bit Ubuntu desktop, verified with
uname -m. - Internet access, permission to use
sudo, and a graphical login. - JDK 17. Oracle’s current documentation specifies Oracle JDK 17; the Linux RPM does not include Java.
uname -mThe normal result is x86_64. If you get aarch64, stop and check Oracle’s current platform downloads rather than assuming the standard RPM is suitable.
1. Install or verify JDK 17
Check an existing JDK
java -version
javac -versionBoth commands should work, and the version should be 17. SQL Developer needs a full JDK, not only a JRE.
Oracle JDK 17
For the closest match to Oracle’s stated requirement, download Oracle JDK 17 from Oracle’s Java downloads page and follow the current package instructions. Filenames, terms, and account requirements can change, so use the current page instead of an old hard-coded download URL.
Ubuntu OpenJDK 17
Ubuntu supplies OpenJDK through its archive:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install openjdk-17-jdkThis is a practical Ubuntu option documented at Ubuntu’s Java setup guide. It is not identical to Oracle JDK: Oracle’s SQL Developer requirement is worded specifically as Oracle JDK 17. If you need formal Oracle compatibility or encounter Java-specific faults, reproduce the problem with Oracle JDK 17.
Find the JDK home
dirname "$(dirname "$(readlink -f "$(command -v javac)")")"A typical result is /usr/lib/jvm/java-17-openjdk-amd64. SQL Developer needs this directory, not the /bin/java executable.
2. Download SQL Developer 26.2
Open Oracle’s official SQL Developer download page, accept the displayed license terms, and sign in if the current download flow requires an Oracle account. Select the Linux RPM and save it in ~/Downloads.
The current filename pattern is sqldeveloper-26.2.0-186.2220.noarch.rpm, but verify the actual filename and Oracle-provided checksum on the page before installing. Avoid third-party mirrors and old tutorials that refer to SQL Developer 21.x, 22.x, or 24.x with Java 8 or 11 instructions.
3. Install the RPM on Ubuntu
Ubuntu normally uses DEB packages, but Oracle distributes this Linux build as an RPM. Install the RPM utility first:
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sudo apt install rpmInstall the exact downloaded file:
cd ~/Downloads
sudo rpm -Uvh ./sqldeveloper-26.2.0-186.2220.noarch.rpmReplace the filename when Oracle provides a different build. A wildcard is convenient when only one SQL Developer RPM is present:
sudo rpm -Uvh ./sqldeveloper-*.rpmUsing the wildcard with several RPMs in the directory can select the wrong package, so the explicit filename is safer.
4. Start SQL Developer and select Java
Find the installed startup script
Do not assume one universal installation directory. Ask the RPM database:
rpm -ql sqldeveloper | grep '/sqldeveloper.sh$'You can inspect every installed path with:
rpm -ql sqldeveloper | lessIf the result is, for example, /opt/sqldeveloper/sqldeveloper/bin/sqldeveloper.sh, start it as your normal user:
sudo -u "$USER" /opt/sqldeveloper/sqldeveloper/bin/sqldeveloper.shOracle’s documented pattern is to change to the SQL Developer directory and run ./sqldeveloper.sh; use the actual path returned on your machine. The current installation guide is the SQL Developer 26.2 Installation Guide.
Enter the JDK path
When prompted, enter the JDK home found earlier, such as:
/usr/lib/jvm/java-17-openjdk-amd64Do not enter /usr/lib/jvm/java-17-openjdk-amd64/bin/java. A successful launch displays the SQL Developer window and its Connections navigator. The first launch can take longer while user configuration files are created.
5. Add an application-menu shortcut
The RPM may not create a usable Ubuntu menu entry. Create one for your user account:
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nano ~/.local/share/applications/sqldeveloper.desktopUse the real installation paths. For an installation under /opt/sqldeveloper/sqldeveloper:
[Desktop Entry]
Name=Oracle SQL Developer
Comment=Oracle database development environment
Exec=/opt/sqldeveloper/sqldeveloper/sqldeveloper.sh
Icon=/opt/sqldeveloper/sqldeveloper/icon.png
Terminal=false
Type=Application
Categories=Development;Database;
StartupWMClass=Oracle SQL DeveloperSave and make the file executable:
chmod +x ~/.local/share/applications/sqldeveloper.desktop- Change
Exec=to the path returned byrpm -ql. - Remove
Icon=if that file does not exist. - Log out and back in if the desktop menu does not refresh.
- Menu launches may not inherit shell variables such as
JAVA_HOME; the explicit JDK selection remains the dependable method.
6. Create a database connection
Only after the application opens should you configure a connection. You need the database host, listener port (commonly 1521, if your administrator uses the default), service name or SID, username, password, and any required VPN or network access. A client launch does not prove that an Oracle Database exists locally or is reachable.
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Java selection when several versions are installed
update-alternatives --list java
update-alternatives --list javac
sudo update-alternatives --config java
sudo update-alternatives --config javacChanging the system default can affect other applications, so do not remove older Java versions merely to install SQL Developer. Supplying the absolute JDK 17 home when SQL Developer asks is more reliable.
If a previously saved Java path is stale, search before editing:
find "$HOME" -maxdepth 3 -type f ( -iname '*product.conf' -o -iname '*jdk*' )Back up any configuration file before changing it. Do not blindly delete the entire SQL Developer configuration directory: it can contain saved connections, preferences, snippets, and other data. Oracle documents that user information is stored outside the installation directory (18.2 guide and 24.3 guide).
Oracle JDK versus OpenJDK, and RPM versus other layouts
| Choice | Advantages | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|
| Oracle JDK 17 | Matches Oracle’s stated SQL Developer requirement. | Separate download and possible account or license workflow. |
| Ubuntu OpenJDK 17 | Easy installation and updates through apt. |
Not identical to the Oracle-specified JDK; support troubleshooting may require Oracle JDK. |
| Oracle RPM | Follows Oracle’s Linux procedure and lets you inspect files with rpm -ql. |
RPM is not Ubuntu’s native DEB format. |
| Manual per-user extraction | No root access and easy side-by-side versions if Oracle supplies an archive. | Not the current 26.2 RPM procedure and requires your own launcher and updates. |
Troubleshooting
rpm: command not found
sudo apt update
sudo apt install rpmWrong filename or package not found
ls -lh ~/Downloads
sudo rpm -Uvh ./actual-sqldeveloper-filename.rpmJava cannot be found or is unsupported
Run java -version and javac -version, confirm version 17, and supply the JDK home rather than the Java executable. Java 8 or 11 instructions from older releases do not apply to 26.2. A stale saved path, a JRE-only installation, or a different system Java can cause the same message.
Permission denied
ls -l /path/to/sqldeveloper.sh
sh /path/to/sqldeveloper.shUse the vendor startup script and avoid changing permissions across the whole installation.
The GUI does not open over SSH
SQL Developer requires a graphical display. Use the local Ubuntu desktop, a graphical remote-desktop session, or carefully configured X11 forwarding. Installing the client on a remote database server is not required.
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The application closes immediately
Start it from a terminal to keep the error visible:
/path/to/sqldeveloper.sh
java -version
echo "$DISPLAY"
df -hCheck the JDK path, display availability, disk space, and user configuration. Do not normally run a GUI application with sudo; root-owned settings can prevent later normal launches.
An existing installation causes upgrade problems
Install a new release in a separate directory or back up the old installation. Oracle warns against installing a new version into an existing sqldeveloper directory; see the 24.3 installation guide.
The application opens but cannot connect
Check the host, port, service name or SID, credentials, firewall, VPN, listener, and permitted authentication method. Connectivity is separate from installation.
Uninstall SQL Developer
Find the exact RPM package name first:
rpm -qa | grep -i sqldeveloperThen remove that exact package:
sudo rpm -e package-nameUser configuration may remain. Back it up and remove it separately only when you intentionally want a clean reset.
Update safely
Download the new RPM from Oracle, check its release notes and JDK requirement, and install it in a clean or separate location when Oracle’s instructions require that. Preserve or back up user configuration before upgrading; never overwrite an existing SQL Developer directory without checking the release guidance.
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