This article is aimed at people, using MacBook (with M1 ARM chips and macOS Monterey). The new 2021 MacBooks come with this macOS – Monterey, already pre-installed. The problem is probably affecting those machines using Intel processors (and macOS Monterey) too, but I can’t confirm, since my setup is on a machine with M1 Pro ARM chip.
My Setup
- macOS Monterey 12.0.1 (21A559)
- SQL Developer 21.2.1.204
What’s the issue
After starting SQL Developer, it works for a minute or two and then crashes.
Resolving the issue
- Download JDK 17 from Oracle’s website (use Arm 64 DMG Installer if you own the new 2021 MacBook Pro with M1 Pro or M1 Max chip)
https://www.oracle.com/java/technologies/downloads/#jdk17-mac - Update SQL Developer’s product.conf file (~/.sqldeveloper/21.2.1/product.conf)
Note that .sqldeveloper is a hidden folder. To display it, hit Command + Shift + .
/Users/mymacuser/.sqldeveloper/21.2.1/product.conf
- Uncomment the # line and set the path to jdk-17.0.1.jdk
SetJavaHome /Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-17.0.1.jdk/Contents/Home
- Start SQL Developer. On the first run, you will get a warning message that you are trying to run it with an unsupported Java JDK version. Click ‘Yes’ and check the checkbox so it won’t display on the next run.
Notes
- This is officially not supported by the current version of SQL Developer (as seen in their documentation here)
- However, it seems to be the only possible way (for now) to run SQL Developer on this MacBook, with this M1 chip, with this OS.
Kudos
- Many thanks to @martindsouza, who first raised the question in Twitter and helped in finding the solution
- @thatjeffsmith and all the users from the Oracle Community Forum, who pointed to the final solution and explained how and why updates in the tool happen.
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