Unbound classpath container in Eclipse

Question

I have checked out a project using Subversive for Eclipse and I am getting the following errors:

The project cannot be built until build path errors are resolved
Unbound classpath container: 'JRE System Library[jdk1.5.0_08]'

I'm assuming the first error will be resolved as soon as the second one is. I think I need to install JDK 1.5.0_08 and set it as a jre system library for the project but I can't find anywhere to download it - the closest I can get is JDK 1.5.0_22.

If anyone could provide an alternative solution (or a download link for jdk1.5.0_08 I suppose) I would appreciate it.

score 224 · Answer 1 · edited Nov 24 '21 at 19:23

224

I had a similar problem when I recreated my workspace that was fixed in the following way:

In Eclipse, go to Window -> Preferences. Under Java select "Installed JREs" and check one of the boxes to specify a default JRE. Click OK and then go back to your project's properties. Go to the "Java Build Path" section and choose the "Libraries" tab. Remove the unbound System Default library, then click the "Add Library" button. Select "JRE System Library" and you should be good to go!

edited Nov 24 '21 at 19:23

LinuxDisciple

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answered May 11 '11 at 02:17

Han

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This worked for me. I had to go to Window -> Preferences for the first step, and the very last step is to select your "Workspace default JRE" and click Finish. – Steph Aug 09 '11 at 17:17
Yeah, the location of dialogs in Eclipse moved around quite a bit during the last release or two; all of the functionality found in older answers is still there, but the "X->Y->Z" paths are often different. – Ti Strga Dec 03 '12 at 16:28
And ensure you have downloaded and installed the latest version of OpenJDK! Sometimes we need reminders of the basics, even me! – Nelda.techspiress Aug 14 '21 at 20:51

score 104 · Accepted Answer · edited Jan 15 '13 at 16:33

104

Given the FAQ, sharing a project file seems have to have advantages and is even recommended practice for Java projects (personally, I would not do that).

Maybe some of the following work for you:

Edit the project's properties (right-click project, Properties, Java Build Path, Libraries, Remove and Add Library.
Import the project's files without the "project file"
Install JDK1.5 from http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/index_jdk5.jsp and see whether you can fix paths

edited Jan 15 '13 at 16:33

Martin

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answered Jan 18 '10 at 02:12

andi5

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or 4. goto Properties -> Java Build Path -> Libraries Tab -> Select the erroneous system library -> Edit (On the right) -> Select alternate JRE -> Finish. – Rajkiran Jun 26 '14 at 12:11
How can I not import the project file? in existing project there is no option for that. I´m very unfamiliar with aclipse – Ricker Silva Apr 13 '19 at 01:06

score 21 · Answer 3 · edited May 15 '14 at 17:33

21

To fix this:

Right click your project –> Build Path –>Configure Build Path
Select JRE Library and click Edit and from Edit library window choose alternate JRE whatever been configured with your eclipse then click Finish

edited May 15 '14 at 17:33

Brad Larson

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answered Apr 01 '14 at 20:24

user3468976

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IF would have done more, but i can vote up only once. saved my whole day – Voonic Jan 14 '15 at 07:04

score 12 · Answer 4 · answered Nov 06 '15 at 19:54

This is pretty old question and I recently came across this. Also answers says make sure that you have the correct JDK registered in Installed JRE section of Eclipse properties, and that is it. I had the correct JDK registered and that was marked as default, but still I got this error. There is one more missing piece.

Make sure the in the Installed JREs section the name of your target runtime environment is exactly as it is mentioned in your imported project. For example if the error you get is - Unbound classpath container: 'JRE System Library [JavaSE-1.8]'. Then in Installed JREs you need to have JDK 1.8 registered and its name should be the exact value mentioned in square brackets, which in this case is JavaSE-1.8.

actually this should be the answer and its solved the problem, all issues in this problems arise due to reason you gave . +1 — The Scientific Method, May 07 '20 at 12:15

score 4 · Answer 5 · edited Oct 03 '13 at 14:00

Indeed this problem is to be fixed under Preferences -> Java -> Installed JREs. If the desired JRE is apparent in the list - just select it, and that's it.

Otherwise it has to be installed on your computer first so you could add it with "Add" -> Standard VM -> Directory, in the pop-up browser window choose its path - something like "program files\Java\Jre#" -> "ok". And now you can select it from the list.

score 3 · Answer 6 · answered Mar 26 '18 at 02:58

right click on the project folder go to Properties at bottom
go to Java Build path
click on Libraries tab
select Classpath
click Add Add Library button on right
select JRE System Library and click Next and then Finish
click Apply and Close the error should go away in IDE.

score 2 · Answer 7 · answered Apr 30 '18 at 19:26

The problem happens when you

Import project folders into the eclipse workspace.(when projects use different Jre).

Update or Reinstall eclipse

Change Jre or Build related Settings.

Or by there is a configuration mismatch.

You get two errors for each misconfigured files.

The project cannot be built until build path errors are resolved.

Unbound classpath container: 'JRE System Library.

If the no. of projects having problem is few:

Select each project and apply Quick fix(Ctrl+1)

Either Replace the project's JRE with default JRE or Specify Alternate JRE (or JDK).

You can do the same by right-click project-->Properties(from context menu)-->Java Build Path-->Libraries-->select current unbound library -->Remove-->Add Libraries-->Jre System library-->select default or alternate Jre.

Or directly choose Build Path-->Add libraries in project's context menu.

But the best way to get rid of such problem when you have many projects is:

EITHER

Open the current workspace (in which your project is) in File Explorer.

Delete all org.eclipse.jdt.core.prefs file present in .settings folder of your imported projects.(Be careful while deleting. Don't delete any files or folders inside .metadata folder.)**

Now,Select the .classpath files of projects (those with errors) and open them in a powerful text editor(such as Notepad++).

Find the line similar to <classpathentry kind="con" path="org.eclipse.jdt.launching.JRE_CONTAINER/org.eclipse.jdt.internal.debug.ui.launcher.StandardVMType/JavaSE-1.6"/> and replace it with <classpathentry kind="con" path="org.eclipse.jdt.launching.JRE_CONTAINER"/>

Save all the files. And Refresh or restart Eclipse IDE. All the problems are gone.

OR

Get the JRE used by the projects and install on your computer and then specify it..

user3627722 · Answer 8 · 2014-05-12T09:57:40.483

1

I had the same problem even after installing JDK 1.7. I corrected it by adding the bin directory to my PATH. So I went to

computer>properties>advanced>environment variables

and then added

C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.7.0_55\bin;

then I followed these instructions

http://clean-clouds.com/2012/12/06/how-to-install-and-add-jre7-in-eclipse/

edited May 12 '14 at 09:57

answered May 12 '14 at 08:51

user3627722

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score 1 · Answer 9 · answered May 20 '19 at 13:52

In an already configured workspace where it just stopped building:

1. Right click the error
2. Select quick fix
3. Use workspace default JRE

This occasionally happens to me when working in a shared project after updating it with the latest changes. I'm not sure why, maybe their JRE installation path differs slightly from mine somehow.

score 1 · Answer 10 · answered Oct 17 '21 at 01:47

Go to Preferences
Search for Java --> Installed JREs
Ensure at least one jdk is added in the list (Image 1)

Click on Apply and then "Apply and Close"
Then right click on project and click on Properties at the bottom.
Click on Java --> Java Build Path --> Libraries tab
Under Classpath remove JRE system libraries by selecting and clicking on Remove
Now click on Classpath and add on AddLibrary --> JRE System Library --> Workspace default JRE --> Finish--> Apply --> Apply and Close (Image 2)
Right click your project --> Build Project

score 1 · Answer 11 · answered Nov 01 '22 at 20:01

Check your Project's configuration

only applicable to java maven spring boot projects

My environment

Java version: 18

Spring boot: 2.75

Maven: 4.0.0

If your accidently specified a java version that is not available in your environment, it would probably echo the same errors you are encountering.

Just go to

<your_application_root/>/pom.xml
Change <java.version>18</java.version> to whatever (terminal command) java --version tells you too.

And.. Its done. :D

score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Dec 18 '16 at 12:48

Click on the error message displaying "Unbound classpath container: 'JRE System Library[jdk1.5.0_08]", left click anyd choose quick fix. Under quick, list of possible options will get displated. Choose replace library. Choose the library you installed. Your good to go.

score 0 · Answer 13 · answered Sep 18 '17 at 13:21

I got the Similar issue while importing the project.

The issue is you select "Use an execution environment JRE" and which is lower then the libraries used in the projects being imported.

There are two ways to resolve this issue:

1.While first time importing the project:

in JRE tab select "USE project specific JRE" instead of "Use an execution environment JRE".

2.Delete the Project from your work space and import again. This time:

select "Check out as a project in the workspace" instead of "Check out as a project configured using the new Project Wizard"

score 0 · Answer 14 · answered Feb 12 '20 at 07:02

For those using sdkman, this helped me.

Use Case:
I was using identifier 8.0.202-amzn
I decided to install Azul Zulu as follows: sdk install java 13.0.2-zulu

Error: And then i got this unbound error.

Solution:
1. Right-click on your project in Eclipse/STS
2. Choose Build Path > Configure Build Path...
3. Under Libraries, remove the JRE Library, for my case 8.0.202-amzn
4. Under Libraries, click on Modulepath > Add Library...
5. Choose JRE System Library, click Next
6. Choose Alternate JRE, click on Installed JREs...
7. Your previous configured value should be there
8. If it is there, edit it, if it is not there, add one
9. Make sure the name is: 13.0.2-zulu
10. And the location(JRE home) is: /Users/jumping_monkey/.sdkman/candidates/java/current
11. Click Apply and close
12. Click Finish
13. Voila!

You will see JRE System Library [13.0.2-zulu] in your Project Explorer and all errors gone

Bravo!