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Get java version number from python

I need to get the java version number, for example "1.5", from python (or bash).

I would use:

os.system('java -version 2>&1 | grep "java version" | cut -d "\\\"" -f 2')

But that returns 1.5.0_30

It needs to be compatible if the number changes to "1.10" for example.

I would like to use cut or grep or even sed. It should be in one line.

Solution

  • Considering an output like this:

    $ java -version
java version "1.8.0_25"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 1.8.0_25-b17)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 25.25-b02, mixed mode)

    You can get the version number with awk like this:

    $ java -version 2>&1 | awk -F[\"_] 'NR==1{print $2}'
1.8.0

    Or, if you just want the first two .-separated digits:

    $ java -version 2>&1 | awk -F[\"\.] -v OFS=. 'NR==1{print $2,$3}'
1.8

    Here, awk sets the field separator to either " or _ (or .), so that the line is sliced in pieces. Then, it prints the 2nd field on the first line (indicated by NR==1). By setting OFS we indicate what is the output field separator, so that saying print $2, $3 prints the 2nd field followed by the 3rd one with a . in between.

    To use it in Python you need to escape properly:

    >>> os.system('java -version 2>&1 | awk -F[\\\"_] \'NR==1{print $2}\'')
1.8.0
>>> os.system('java -version 2>&1 | awk -F[\\\"\.] -v OFS=. \'NR==1{print $2,$3}\'')
1.8