cfbuilder plugin in vscode having java version error after update

[dellydust]

 I'm using vs code with the cfbuilder plugin and using commandbox as my development server.  I am getting an error when I start cfbuilder in vscode that cfbuilder requires a version of Java greater than 7.  I already had a version greater than 7 but I clicked on the download Java button in the error and reinstalled it.  However I still get the error.  When I enter "java -version" in the VSCode terminal it responds:

java version "23.0.2" 2025-01-21
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 23.0.2+7-58)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 23.0.2+7-58, mixed mode, sharing)

Not sure what to do.

-Rick

[BKBK]

It just might be that Visual Studio Code is confused. It might be thinking that JDK build 23.0.2+7-58 is Java 7. If so, that will imply that JDK 23 is probably too new for your Visual Studio Code installation. Hence, experiment by replacing the Java version that Visual Studio Code uses, for example, with Java 21.  

A Youtube video on how to change the Java version of Visual Studio Code: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p-H7Q9PtSc8 

[RaviShankar Chagnur]

Hello Rick,

Can you please send an Email to cfinstal@adobe.com

Thanks & Regards

Ravi

[Charlie Arehart]

dellydust, even while you may be taking up Ravi's kind offer, can you please offer the exact text of the error message? I know I've seen this problem many times, and I'd like to find other discussions of it.

Having your error mesage would help us and future readers: even if you may resolve things with Ravi. 🙂 And if you all DO solve it, please do clarify what it took. I've seen this problem for years and am wanting to get it clarified somewhere what the problem and solution is (or better, if it's something Adobe can address from their end in teh extension or its error handling).

[dellydust · Accepted solution]

RaviShankar thank you for referring me to cfinstal@adobe.com.  Abhishek responded for me to install JDK 11 and check results.  I'm running on Windows 11.  I downloaded openjdk11 from the Microsoft OpenJDK site and installed it and restarted Visual Studio Code.  The CF Builder window opened up in it and announced it was ready to help.  I confirmed that code assist and other features were working.  I apologize I was under the weather and my attempt to install was delayed several days.

To Charlie, the error message was in the lower right and I believe said CF Builder required a newer version of Java to run.  I had just updated my Java to jdk23 and was like "how new doed it have to be."  Also the code assist tools would say "Tool name" not found.  JDK 11 is the preferred java version for CFBuilder it appears.

Thank you all I really appeciate it that you responded.

Dellydust

[Charlie Arehart]

Dellydust, thanks for the update and glad you're working, but to be clear I was hoping you'd see my request for the error message BEFORE you would fix things. I am aware where it appears, and how confusing it is. 🙂 

I wanted for us to have the exact message, for the record, so that others searching for it would find this discussion. With what you/Abishek have shared, I suppose any of us reading along may be able to replicate it. If anyone does, please share the exact message here. 

[jmgreen]

I'm running Java 11 and got this error. 

Error text: Java version greater than 7 required to run CFML extension

Source: Adobe Coldfusion Builder

with a box to Visit Download page that takes you to Oracle

Double checked my PATH settings and everything in the system recognizes that I'm running JAVA 11.  So now what?

Thanks,

Julie Green

[BKBK]

Hi Julie, I thought you did get the error when running Java 23 but that the problem was solved when you switched to Java 11. So, in short, is there still a problem?

[jmgreen]

Sorry, no, I'm not the original poster.  I replied here since it was the same issue rather than start a new thread.  I'm getting the error even though I am running Java 11 which from the answer above I believed to be the preferred Java version.

[dellydust]

Jmgreen-

FWIW I am the original poster.  I was advised by coldfusion help to install jdk11 to enable CFBuilder extension to work in VScode after getting the error that CBuilder required a java version greater than 7.

I downloaded openjdk11 from the Microsoft OpenJDK site (I’m running Win11) and ran the installer.  Installation asked me whether I wanted to install it to my user folder or install for everyone.  I selected my user folder an it was installed in my User directory and the installation updated the JAVA_HOME environment variable.

I restarted vscode and CFBuilder announced it was ready to help.  And it was.

-Rick

[BKBK]

@dellydust , thanks for the clarification.

@jmgreen , as JDK 11 has been shown to work, the error you are getting suggests you may have a second Java installation on your machine. Have you ruled that out?

[jmgreen]

I can find no other Java installs.  My system JAVAHOME variable is set correctly to the 11-jdk folder I have my Java installed in.  I edited the JAVA.HOME setting in Code to accurately point to my 11-jdk (it was blank previously).  Restarted everything.  And still got the error. 

I removed my jdk and installed a fresh copy.  Restarted system.  Opened Code and still have the error.

I decided to go full slash and burn, uninstalled the extension, uninstalled Code (including deleting all residual folders after the uninstall that hold profile settings etc), rebooted the server.  Reinstalled a fresh copy of Code, reinstalled Adobe Builder extension and still getting the code even with the fully fresh install.  

I'm at a loss.  Not that I think it should matter because I have it in my system path variables, but I do install java in a non-standard location.  d:/Java/ instead of in Program Files folder.  And path variables are working, as a java -version call on cmd returns my correct java version.    Any other suggestions?

[dellydust]

FWIW I am running Windows and the environment variable for java is JAVA_HOME.  Changing that to the openjdk11 directory worked for me.  I have other installations of Java, including jdk23 and jre1.8 but once I changed the JAVA_HOME directory to openjdk11 CFBuilder extension came alive.

[jmgreen]

I mistyped, but yes, I'm also on windows, and I have the JAVA_HOME environment variable set to the directory of my jdk-11.  But somehow I just fixed the issue, though it makes no sense to me as all variables look the same now as they did before.  But what I did was delete the JAVA_HOME environment variable before deleting the JAVA directory.  Then I installed JAVA again (same directory path as before) using the installer rather than copying from zip so that the installer created the PATH variables for me.  After that, I check environment variables, and there still was no JAVA_PATH (java executable had been added to PATH), so I created JAVA_PATH with same path as before.  And now it works.  Screenshots of final variables below.  No idea why this work, but my error is gone and Builder is loading fully and correctly.

Also have system PATH set:

[dellydust]

That is puzzling but glad to hear you got it running.

[BKBK]

@jmgreen , glad to hear your Visual Studio Code installation is now working with Java. Thanks for sharing your experience.