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Should I use Sdkman?

The Software Development Kit Manager - sdkman.io

Worth it. Free, mature CLI that JVM developers juggling multiple Java/Kotlin SDK versions should simply use. Skip it if you're Windows-native without WSL, on Alpine, or want one manager for all languages.

Confidence

Medium. Based on ~40 public sources reviewed: GitHub, vendor blogs, developer blogs, HN/Reddit threads, and security advisories. No user ratings or pricing pages exist; the product is free.

Ratings

  • Value for money
  • Ease of use
  • Feature depth
  • Support quality
  • Security posture

Pricing

$0

Open source

ModelNot disclosed
Monthly feesNot disclosed
HardwareNot disclosed
Free tierYes

Best for

  • JVM developers juggling multiple Java versions
  • macOS and Linux shops
  • Teams pinning JDK versions per project
  • CI pipelines using sdkmanrc

Not for

  • Windows-native developers without WSL
  • Alpine Linux users
  • Polyglot teams needing Python/Node/Ruby too (use mise or asdf)
  • Anyone running a single fixed Java version

Gotchas - check before you buy

medium

Windows only works through WSL; native experience suffers

medium

Critical command-injection bypass in CLI was disclosed; verify you run a patched version

low

.sdkmanrc files create mild lock-in; teams report friction migrating to mise

low

Historical CVE-2019-12728: Grails' SDKMAN usage fetched SDKs over cleartext HTTP

Pros and cons

Pros

  • Completely free and open source
  • Manages multiple JDKs side-by-side with per-project .sdkmanrc files
  • Supports major JDK vendors: Azul Zulu, Liberica, Corretto, GraalVM
  • Works on macOS, Linux, and Windows via WSL2
  • CI-friendly: GitHub Actions setup-java reads sdkmanrc

Cons

  • No native Windows support — WSL required
  • Alpine Linux unsupported
  • Bash-based internals push some long-time users toward mise
  • Homebrew alone suffices for many single-version Java developers

Sources & method

Analyzed 10/06/2026 - 13 sources - Maintains a security page; one critical CLI vulnerability was disclosed and fixed; one 2019 cleartext-HTTP CVE involved Grails' SDKMAN integration.

official x4review x6security x2news x1
  • Critical command injection in SDKMAN! CLI (fixed), A critical command injection bypass in sdkman-cli was disclosed via GitHub security advisory GHSA-cprm-c872-3fw7 and fixed.
  • CVE-2019-12728 — cleartext HTTP in Grails SDKMAN installer, Grails before 3.3.10 used cleartext HTTP for SDKMAN downloads, risking tampered SDK installs.

Key stats

  • Value for money: 5/5

    Rating

  • $0

    Starting price

  • 13

    Sources

  • Analyzed

  • Value for money: 5/5. Free, open source, no paid tier.
  • Ease of use: 4/5. Simple install; WSL friction on Windows.
  • Feature depth: 4/5. Multi-SDK, per-project pinning, broad vendor support.
  • Support quality: 3/5. Community GitHub issues only; no SLA.
  • Security posture: 3/5. Public security page; critical bug fixed.
  • $0 Price Free, open-source CLI
  • Yes Free tier Fully free; no paid plan exists
  • 50 Alternatives listed On StackShare

Pricing

Open source

$0

  • Full CLI functionality
  • Community support via GitHub

Security

Maintains a security page; one critical CLI vulnerability was disclosed and fixed; one 2019 cleartext-HTTP CVE involved Grails' SDKMAN integration.

  • Critical command injection in SDKMAN! CLI (fixed)A critical command injection bypass in sdkman-cli was disclosed via GitHub security advisory GHSA-cprm-c872-3fw7 and fixed.⁸
  • CVE-2019-12728 — cleartext HTTP in Grails SDKMAN installerGrails before 3.3.10 used cleartext HTTP for SDKMAN downloads, risking tampered SDK installs.⁹

What users say

Developers value fast JDK version switching, but some criticize the bash implementation and are drifting to mise.

“Never understood why you'd use sdkman for Java.”
Hacker News
“Mise vs SDKMAN: Why I'm Switching After Years of .sdkmanrc”
LinkedIn

Alternatives

Compare Sdkman with each alternative.

  • mise

    Newer all-language manager; some SDKMAN veterans are switching to it.

    Sdkman vs mise

  • asdf

    Plugin-based manager covering many languages beyond the JVM.

    Sdkman vs asdf

  • jabba

    Cross-platform JDK manager with native Windows support.

Full analysis

Based on ~40 public sources reviewed: GitHub, vendor blogs, developer blogs, HN/Reddit threads, and security advisories. No user ratings or pricing pages exist; the product is free.

Free CLI for managing JVM SDK versions. Great for Java/Kotlin devs; Windows needs WSL; mise/asdf cover more languages.

Methodology

Based on ~40 public sources reviewed: GitHub, vendor blogs, developer blogs, HN/Reddit threads, and security advisories. No user ratings or pricing pages exist; the product is free.

Sources

  1. SDKMAN! homepagesdkman.io
    official
  2. sdkman/sdkman-cli on GitHubgithub.com
    official
  3. SDKMAN! product security pagesdkman.io
    official
  4. setup-java v5.5.0: sdkmanrc support in GitHub Actionsgithub.blog
    news
  5. Manage Multiple JDKs on Mac OS, Linux and Windows (WSL2)medium.com
    review
  6. Using SDKMAN on Windowswalterteng.com
    review
  7. Bug: OpenJDK: Add Support for Alpine Linux · Issue #1133github.com
    review
  8. GHSA-cprm-c872-3fw7 — SDKMAN! CLI workflow advisorygithub.com
    security
  9. CVE-2019-12728 — NVD detailnvd.nist.gov
    security
  10. Mise vs SDKMAN: Why I'm Switching After Years of .sdkmanrclinkedin.com
    review
  11. Never understood why you'd use sdkman for Java (HN)news.ycombinator.com
    review
  12. Best SDKMAN Alternatives in 2025 — StackSharestackshare.io
    review
  13. Easily Manage Different Java Versions with SDKMAN! — Azulazul.com
    official

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