Environment Configuration

Correctly setting up the environment is the first step to using Probato effectively. This step ensures that all required tools are available to create, execute, and evolve automation test projects based on the framework.

This section focuses exclusively on environment preparation.
No Probato concepts are introduced here — they are already covered in the Concepts section.

Overview of the required environment

To work with Probato, you need:

Java Development Kit (JDK) 11 or higher
Apache Maven
An IDE with Java support

These components form the execution foundation of the framework.

Java Development Kit (JDK)

The Java Development Kit (JDK) is required to compile and run the Java code used by Probato.

The minimum recommended version is Java 11.

Distribution options

You may use any Java 11+ compatible distribution, such as:

The choice of distribution does not affect Probato’s behavior.

Environment variable configuration

Windows

Open Edit system environment variables
Under System Variables, click New:
Name: JAVA_HOME
Value: C:\dev\java\jdk-11
Edit the Path variable and add:
```
%JAVA_HOME%\bin
```

Mac / Linux

Add the following lines to ~/.bash_profile or ~/.zshrc:

export JAVA_HOME=/Library/Java/JavaVirtualMachines/jdk-11.jdk/Contents/Home
export PATH=$JAVA_HOME/bin:$PATH

Installation validation

Run:

java --version

Expected output:

java version "11.0.X"
Java(TM) SE Runtime Environment (build 11.0.X)
Java HotSpot(TM) 64-Bit Server VM (build 11.0.X)

If the version is displayed correctly, the JDK is configured.

Apache Maven

Apache Maven is used by Probato for:

Dependency management
Test execution
Build automation

Installation

Download Maven from the official website:

https://maven.apache.org/download.cgi

Extract it to a directory of your choice, for example:

Windows: C:\dev\maven
Mac/Linux: /usr/local/maven

Environment variable configuration

Windows

Create the variable:
Name: MAVEN_HOME
Value: C:\dev\maven
Add to Path:
```
%MAVEN_HOME%\bin
```

Mac / Linux

Add to ~/.bash_profile or ~/.zshrc:

export MAVEN_HOME=/usr/local/maven
export PATH=$MAVEN_HOME/bin:$PATH

Installation validation

Run:

mvn -version

Expected output:

Apache Maven 3.X.X
Maven home: /usr/local/maven
Java version: 11.0.X

If Maven responds correctly, the installation is complete.

IDE (Integrated Development Environment)

An IDE simplifies writing, running, and debugging automated tests.

Commonly used IDEs with Probato include:

IDE	Main advantage	Recommended usage
Eclipse	Lightweight and free	Beginners
IntelliJ IDEA	Advanced features	Larger projects
Visual Studio Code	Lightweight and extensible	Simple projects

Note

Regardless of the IDE you choose, make sure to install the necessary plugins for Java and Maven support.

Final checklist

Before proceeding to project creation, verify that:

✅ Java is installed and accessible (java --version)
✅ Maven is installed and accessible (mvn -version)
✅ An IDE is installed and configured

With the environment ready, you can move on to creating your first Probato project.

➡️ Next step: Project Creation