About SDKMAN Interactive CLI
SDKMAN Interactive CLI adds interactive browsing, filtering, and installation to SDKMAN. It is for SDKMAN users who want to select SDK versions from a formatted list or manage SDKs through an MCP-compatible AI assistant.
Key features
- 01Interactive SDK version selection
- 02Filter versions by keyword
- 03Support all SDKMAN candidates
- 04List, install, and inspect current SDKs
Use cases
- 01Find Java versions matching a keyword
- 02Install a selected Kotlin or Gradle version
- 03Manage SDKs through an MCP-compatible assistant
MCP support
It runs as an MCP server that lets compatible AI assistants invoke SDKMAN functions, including listing and installing versions and checking current SDKs.
Configuration
Local server config is the same for every client. Copy it into your client’s MCP config file.
We haven’t collected a package or remote endpoint for this server. Follow the instructions in the project README.
Tools
Local servers expose tools only once running on your machine, and the maintainer has not provided a tool list.
Details
From the project READMESDKMAN Interactive CLI
An interactive command-line interface for SDKMAN (Software Development Kit Manager), making it easier to browse, filter, and install SDKs.
Features
- Interactive version selection with formatted display
- Version filtering by keyword (e.g., "21" for Java 21)
- Support for all SDKMAN candidates (Java, Kotlin, Gradle, etc.)
- Comprehensive command-line interface
- User-friendly display of version information
Prerequisites
- Python 3.6+
- SDKMAN installed and configured
- Bash shell environment
Installation
Clone this repository:
git clone https://github.com/yourusername/sdkman-mcp.git
cd sdkman-mcp
Usage
As a Python Module
from src.sdkman_mcp.sdk_commands import sdk_interactive_install
# Install Java with interactive selection
result = sdk_interactive_install("java")
# Install Java 21.x with filtering
result = sdk_interactive_install("java", "21")
Command Line Interface
The package provides ready-to-use scripts:
General SDK Installer
Install any SDKMAN candidate:
python examples/install_sdk.py java # Install any Java version
python examples/install_sdk.py java 21 # Install Java 21.x
python examples/install_sdk.py kotlin # Install Kotlin
python examples/install_sdk.py gradle 8 # Install Gradle 8.x
JDK-specific Installer
python examples/install_jdk.py # Install any JDK version
python examples/install_jdk.py 21 # Install JDK 21.x
Main CLI
The module can also be run directly:
python -m src.sdkman_mcp.sdk_commands install java --version 21
python -m src.sdkman_mcp.sdk_commands list java
python -m src.sdkman_mcp.sdk_commands current
Using with AI Assistants (MCP Integration)
SDKMAN Interactive CLI can be integrated with AI assistants that support the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing you to manage your SDKs directly through conversations with AI.
Integration with Claude Desktop
To use this tool with Claude Desktop, edit the Claude configuration file:
- MacOS:
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json - Windows:
%APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Add the following configuration:
{
"mcpServers": {
"sdkman": {
"command": "python",
"args": ["-m", "src.sdkman_mcp.sdk_commands"],
"env": {
"SDKMAN_DIR": "~/.sdkman" // Optional, defaults to ~/.sdkman
},
"alwaysAllow": [
"list",
"current"
]
}
}
}
Using with Other MCP-Compatible AI Assistants
For other AI assistants supporting MCP:
- Configure the assistant to use this module as an MCP server
- Provide the path to the module:
src.sdkman_mcp.sdk_commands - Ensure the environment has access to your SDKMAN installation
Available MCP Commands
When integrated with MCP, you can interact with SDKMAN using natural language:
- "List available Java versions"
- "Install Java 21"
- "Show my currently installed SDKs"
- "Update Gradle to the latest version"
- "Set Java 17 as the default version"
The AI assistant will interpret these commands and use the appropriate SDKMAN functions to execute them.
Example Output
When running the interactive installer, you'll see a formatted list of available versions:
=========================================================================
Available java versions (filter: '21') - 12 results
=========================================================================
Number Vendor | Use | Version | Dist | Status | Identifier
------ ------------ | ---- | ---------- | --------- | ----------- | -------------------------
1 Correto | | 21.0.7 | amzn | | 21.0.7-amzn
2 Correto | | 21.0.6 | amzn | | 21.0.6-amzn
3 GraalVM CE | | 21.0.2 | graalce | | 21.0.2-graalce
4 GraalVM Oracle| | 21.0.7 | graal | | 21.0.7-graal
5 GraalVM Oracle| | 21.0.6 | graal | | 21.0.6-graal
6 Java.net | | 21.0.2 | open | | 21.0.2-open
7 Liberica | | 21.0.7.fx | librca | | 21.0.7.fx-librca
8 Liberica | | 21.0.7 | librca | | 21.0.7-librca
9 Liberica | | 21.0.6.fx | librca | | 21.0.6.fx-librca
10 Liberica | | 21.0.6 | librca | | 21.0.6-librca
Note: >>> in the Use column indicates the current default version
Please select a version number (or enter 'q' to exit):
API Reference
The module provides several functions:
sdk_interactive_install(candidate, search_version=None): Interactive installationparse_sdk_versions(output, search_version=None): Parse SDK version list- Other standard SDKMAN functions (list, install, current, etc.)
How It Works
The tool provides an enhanced interface for SDKMAN by:
- Executing SDKMAN commands through the shell
- Parsing and formatting the output
- Providing an interactive interface for selection
- Handling installation with proper confirmation steps
Troubleshooting
Common issues and solutions:
- SDKMAN not found: Ensure SDKMAN is properly installed at
~/.sdkmanor set theSDKMAN_DIRenvironment variable - Permission denied: Check that SDKMAN scripts have execution permissions
- Command not found: Ensure bash is available on your system (required for running SDKMAN commands)
- MCP integration issues: Check that the AI assistant has proper permissions to execute commands
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.
License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
Acknowledgements
- SDKMAN - The Software Development Kit Manager
- All contributors to this project
Comments
New to MCP?
From what the protocol is to installing your first server, these answers cover most first questions.
An open protocol that defines how AI applications connect to external tools and data in a uniform way. Clients talk to the model; MCP servers provide tools, resources and prompt templates. They exchange standard messages, so one server can be reused by many clients.