title: Programming Java 8 in Eclipse
body: <p>The development of Eclipse support for Java 8 is ongoing in a branch (<a href="http://wiki.eclipse.org/JDT_Core/Java8" rel="noreferrer">http://wiki.eclipse.org/JDT_Core/Java8</a>).</p>
  
  <p>To try out the current Eclipse support for Java 8, I did the following:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>I installed a build of JDK 8 (This step is optional).</li>
  <li>I checked out branch <code>BETA_JAVA8</code> of <code>git://git.eclipse.org/gitroot/jdt/eclipse.jdt.core.git</code>.</li>
  <li>I imported the checked out projects in an instance of Eclipse Juno SR1 (Build ID: 20120920-0800).</li>
  <li>I ran a new instance of Eclipse from my running Eclipse.</li>
  </ol>
  
  <p>To use the new syntax available in Java 8, Eclipse said that I have to set the compliance level of my code to 1.8. To set the compliance level, I have to set the execution environment to <code>JavaSE-1.8</code>. This execution environment was not available at <code>Windows -&gt; Preferences -&gt; Java -&gt; Installed JREs -&gt; Execution Environments</code>.</p>
  
  <p>How can I set the execution environment to <code>JavaSE-1.8</code>?</p>
  
  <p>The following summarizes some of my attempts to install the execution environment:</p>
  
  <ol>
  <li>I followed the <a href="http://wiki.eclipse.org/Execution_Environments#Installing_Execution_Environment_Descriptions" rel="noreferrer">wiki instructions</a> looking for a description of <code>JavaSE-1.8</code> at the update site <a href="http://download.eclipse.org/eclipse/updates/4.2" rel="noreferrer">http://download.eclipse.org/eclipse/updates/4.2</a>. But, the definition of the execution environment wasn't there.</li>
  <li>I looked for the <code>JavaSE-1.8</code> profile in the <a href="https://github.com/eclipse/rt.equinox.framework/tree/master/bundles/org.eclipse.osgi" rel="noreferrer">git repository of rt.equinox.framework</a>, but, it wasn't there.</li>
  </ol>