How to Install Spring Boot CLI on Ubuntu 24.04 Using SDKMAN
This beginner-friendly guide explains how to manually install the Spring Boot CLI on an Ubuntu 24.04 server using SDKMAN.
The commands in this article follow the same installation process used by the supplied Spring Boot Ansible playbook.
- OpenJDK 17
- SDKMAN
- Spring Boot CLI
- Git
- curl
- zip
- unzip
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS
- Root or sudo access
- Internet connection
- SSH access if using a remote server
Step 1: Connect to Your Ubuntu Server
If you are installing Spring Boot on a remote Ubuntu server, connect to it using SSH.
ssh username@SERVER-IP
Replace username with your Ubuntu username and SERVER-IP with the IP address of your server.
Example:
ssh ubuntu@203.0.113.10
If you are already logged into the Ubuntu terminal, continue to the next step.
Step 2: Check the Ubuntu Version
Check the operating system version:
lsb_release -a
The server should show Ubuntu 24.04 information.
Step 3: Update the Ubuntu Package List
The Ansible playbook first updates the package cache. Run:
sudo apt update
Upgrade installed packages:
sudo apt upgrade -y
Step 4: Install Required Packages
The Spring Boot Ansible playbook installs the following packages:
- curl
- zip
- unzip
- git
- OpenJDK 17
Install them with:
sudo apt install -y curl zip unzip git openjdk-17-jdk
Wait until the installation finishes.
Step 5: Verify Java Installation
Spring Boot requires Java. The supplied Ansible playbook installs OpenJDK 17. Check the installed Java version:
java -version
The output should show Java 17.
You can also check the Java compiler:
javac -version
Step 6: Install SDKMAN
SDKMAN is used by the supplied Ansible playbook to install Spring Boot CLI.
Run the SDKMAN installation command:
curl -s https://get.sdkman.io | bash
The SDKMAN installer will download and configure SDKMAN in your home directory.
SDKMAN is installed for the current Linux user. Do not use sudo when installing SDKMAN itself.
Step 7: Load SDKMAN
After installing SDKMAN, load it into the current terminal session:
source "$HOME/.sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh"
You can verify that SDKMAN is available:
sdk version
If SDKMAN is working, it will display its version information.
Step 8: Install Spring Boot CLI Using SDKMAN
Install Spring Boot CLI using SDKMAN:
sdk install springboot
SDKMAN will download and install the Spring Boot CLI.
If SDKMAN asks whether you want to make the installed version the default, accept the default option.
Step 9: Verify Spring Boot CLI
Run:
spring --version
The command should display information about the installed Spring Boot CLI.
You can also run:
sdk current springboot
This shows the Spring Boot version currently selected by SDKMAN.
If spring --version successfully displays the Spring Boot CLI version, the Spring Boot CLI installation has completed successfully.
Step 10: Check the SDKMAN Installation Directory
SDKMAN is installed inside the current user's home directory. Check the directory:
ls -lah ~/.sdkman
The directory should contain SDKMAN files and directories.
Step 11: Check Spring Boot CLI Location
Find where the spring command is located:
which spring
You can also check the command:
type spring
Step 12: Check Git
Git is installed by the supplied Ansible playbook. Verify it:
git --version
Step 13: Check curl
Verify curl:
curl --version
Step 14: Check zip and unzip
Verify zip:
zip -v
Verify unzip:
unzip -v
Step 15: Test Spring Boot CLI
Run the Spring Boot CLI help command:
spring --help
If the help information appears, the Spring Boot CLI is available from the terminal.
Step 16: Check All Installed Components
Run the following commands to perform a final verification:
java -version
javac -version
git --version
curl --version
zip -v
unzip -v
sdk version
spring --version
Step 17: Using Spring Boot CLI
After the installation is complete, the spring command can be used from the terminal.
For example, display the Spring Boot CLI version:
spring --version
Display the available Spring Boot CLI commands:
spring --help
Step 18: If the "spring" Command Is Not Found
If you receive an error such as:
spring: command not found
reload SDKMAN:
source "$HOME/.sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh"
Then try:
spring --version
Step 19: If SDKMAN Is Not Available
If the sdk command is not available, load SDKMAN again:
source "$HOME/.sdkman/bin/sdkman-init.sh"
Check SDKMAN:
sdk version
Step 20: Check the Installed Spring Boot Version
Use SDKMAN to display the current Spring Boot version:
sdk current springboot
You can also use:
spring --version
Step 21: Useful SDKMAN Commands
List Spring Boot versions available through SDKMAN:
sdk list springboot
Display the current Spring Boot version:
sdk current springboot
Display SDKMAN information:
sdk version
Step 22: Restarting the Terminal
After installation, you can close and reopen your terminal. When you open a new terminal, SDKMAN normally loads automatically.
Test it:
sdk version
Then verify Spring Boot:
spring --version
Step 23: Final Installation Verification
Run the following commands:
echo "===== Java ====="
java -version
echo "===== Git ====="
git --version
echo "===== SDKMAN ====="
sdk version
echo "===== Spring Boot ====="
spring --version
echo "===== Spring Boot Location ====="
which spring
If each command returns information without an error, the main components from the Ansible playbook are installed.
Installation Complete
Spring Boot CLI has been installed on Ubuntu 24.04 using SDKMAN.
- OpenJDK 17 is installed.
- SDKMAN is installed.
- Spring Boot CLI is installed.
- Git is installed.
- curl is installed.
- zip is installed.
- unzip is installed.
The main verification command is:
spring --version
Installation Summary
| Component | Configuration |
|---|---|
| Operating System | Ubuntu 24.04 LTS |
| Java | OpenJDK 17 |
| Spring Boot | Installed through SDKMAN |
| SDK Manager | SDKMAN |
| SDKMAN Directory | ~/.sdkman |
| Git | Installed |
| curl | Installed |
| zip | Installed |
| unzip | Installed |
Quick Verification Commands
Check Java:
java -version
Check SDKMAN:
sdk version
Check Spring Boot:
spring --version
Find Spring Boot:
which spring
The supplied Ansible playbook installs the Spring Boot CLI through SDKMAN, but it does not deploy a Spring Boot application, create a project, configure a web server, or expose a Spring Boot application through a public HTTP port. Therefore, this guide ends after verifying that the Spring Boot CLI is installed.
This knowledgebase article follows the supplied Spring Boot Ansible project, including Ubuntu package installation, OpenJDK 17, SDKMAN, Spring Boot CLI, Git, curl, zip, and unzip.

