Checkstyle Installation Guide for Java (2025)

Introduction

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to install Checkstyle on Mac, Windows, and Linux for Java static analysis in 2025. Checkstyle is a popular tool for enforcing coding standards and style.

1️⃣ Prerequisites

Java 8 or later
Checkstyle JAR (latest version from official site)
Internet connection for downloading packages

2️⃣ Installation on Mac/Linux

Install Java:
brew install openjdk@17 (Mac) or sudo apt-get install openjdk-17-jdk (Linux)
Download the latest Checkstyle JAR from the official site.
Run Checkstyle:
java -jar checkstyle-*.jar -c /google_checks.xml MyClass.java

3️⃣ Installation on Windows

Install Java 8+ (e.g., from Adoptium).
Download the latest Checkstyle JAR from the official site.
Open Command Prompt and run:
java -jar checkstyle-*.jar -c /google_checks.xml MyClass.java

4️⃣ IDE Integration

IntelliJ IDEA: Install the Checkstyle-IDEA plugin from the JetBrains marketplace.
Eclipse: Install the Checkstyle plugin from the Eclipse Marketplace.
Configure the plugin to use your preferred ruleset (e.g., Google or Sun checks).

FAQ

Edit the configuration XML file (e.g., google_checks.xml) to add or modify rules as needed.

Yes, add the Checkstyle plugin to your Maven or Gradle build file. See the official documentation for configuration examples.

Conclusion

Checkstyle is lightweight and easy to install on all major platforms. Use the steps above to enforce coding standards in your Java projects in 2025!