Running Eclipse on Mac - JVM Version 1.7 or greater is required

Question

I downloaded Eclipse (specifically that for C/C++ Programming) for Mac, running OSX Mavericks. When I try to start Eclipse, it gives me this message: "Version 1.6.0_65 of the JVM is not suitable for this product. Version 1.7 or greater is required", and it doesn't open. I installed Java version 7, but nothing changed. I don't know how else to update the JVM (I don't know much about Java in general).

I downloaded the 64-bit version for my MacBook Air, if that matters.

Answer 1

Simply Install the JDK 7 or JDK 8, and not just the latest JRE.

Answer 2

Run whereis java in a Terminal. It will normally display something like /usr/bin/java.

Now run java -version. It shows you 'java version 1.6.0_65' or something approaching. This is because Java 7 does not replace Java 6. Java 7 is installed as an Internet Plug-in and can be found in /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home/bin/java.

What you need to do is to symlink /usr/bin/java to /Library/Internet\ Plug-Ins/JavaAppletPlugin.plugin/Contents/Home/bin/java.

Restart Eclipse, or reboot your computer (I don't know how Eclipse manages this), and it should do the trick. :)