Install Gradle on Ubuntu

This guide provides a clean, repeatable setup flow, verification steps, and common pitfalls to avoid in real environments.

1. Download and Extract

Download Gradle and extract it to your tools directory, for example:

/data/dev/tools/gradle-8.7

2. Set GRADLE_HOME and PATH

Edit profile:

sudo nano /etc/profile

Add:

GRADLE_HOME=/data/dev/tools/gradle-8.7
PATH=$PATH:$GRADLE_HOME/bin
export GRADLE_HOME
export PATH

Reload shell config:

source /etc/profile

3. Verify

echo $GRADLE_HOME
gradle -v

4. Optional: Set GRADLE_USER_HOME

Set custom Gradle cache/repository location:

export GRADLE_USER_HOME=/data/dev/repository/gradle

Add this line in profile to make it persistent.

Key Takeaways

  • Keep configuration explicit and environment-specific.
  • Verify setup with version and env checks immediately after changes.
  • Automate these steps in shell profiles or project docs to avoid drift.