NB Ensure that the version of the jdk matches the version of your system Java for this to work properly. The Eclipse Projects might need updating to point to the 'new' JRE, but the source and javadocs should now be available for the standard java stuff without further ado. Then, in Eclipse/Preferences, you can create a new Installed JRE by duplicating the existing one (the existing one points to something like /System/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.6.0.jdk/Contents/Home) and then select the new Installed JRE and remove the original. Sudo ln -s /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/1.6.0_24-b07-334.jdk/Contents/Home/src.jar src.jar The Java runtime shipping in Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard, and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard, will continue to be supported and maintained through the standard support cycles of those products.' crarko adds: I would take this as a pretty serious hint from Apple that if you develop software in Java for use on Mac OS X, be prepared for a bumpy ride ahead unless Oracle picks up their support for Java on the Mac in Lion. Put in symbolic links to the jdk source files, src.jar, docs.jar and appledocs.jar, in the jdk you've just downloaded, that is: The system will not install a JRE that has an earlier version than the current version.Download and install the Java Developer Kit (using your developer AppleId), current version 1.6.0_24-b07-334.jdk, and then in a shell, cd to the /System/Library/Frameworks/amework/Home directory.

When you install the JRE, you can install only one JRE on your system at a time. This release included much awaited new features like the modularization of the Java Platform, better performance, support for new standards, and many other improvements. Java SE Runtime Environment 9 was an update to the Java Platform. To install an earlier version of the JRE, you must first uninstall the current version. Users of Java SE 9 should switch to Java SE 10. To determine the current JRE version installed on your system, see Determining the JRE Version Installed on macOS. However, the system will not replace the current JRE with a lower version. When you install the JDK, it also installs the JRE. Administrator privileges are required to install the JDK and JRE on macOS. Installing the JDK and JRE on macOS is performed on a systemwide basis for all users. You cannot install Java for a single user.

The following are the system requirements for installing the JDK and the JRE on macOS:

Java for mac os x version 10.6