Installing Scala and SBT

In this lesson, you will learn how to install Scala and SBT (Scala Build Tool) on your system.

A proper development setup is essential before writing real Scala applications. Scala relies on the JVM, and SBT is the standard tool used to build, run, and manage Scala projects.

Prerequisites

Before installing Scala, you need to ensure that Java is installed on your system. Scala runs on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

You should have:

• Java JDK 8 or later
• Internet connection
• Basic command-line knowledge

Checking Java Installation

Open a terminal or command prompt and run the following command:

java -version

If Java is installed, you will see the installed version information. If not, install Java before proceeding.

What Is SBT?

SBT stands for Scala Build Tool. It is used to:

• Compile Scala code
• Manage project dependencies
• Run Scala applications
• Execute tests

Most professional Scala projects use SBT, so learning it early is important.

Installing Scala and SBT

The recommended way to install Scala and SBT is by using Scala CLI or package managers.

Below are common installation methods.

Installing on Windows

You can install Scala and SBT using a package manager like Chocolatey.

choco install scala sbt

Installing on macOS

On macOS, use Homebrew:

brew install scala sbt

Installing on Linux

On most Linux distributions, you can install SBT using your package manager.

sudo apt install sbt

Scala can then be installed separately or through SBT itself.

Verifying Installation

After installation, verify Scala and SBT by running:

scala -version
sbt sbtVersion

If both commands return version information, your setup is complete.

Running the Scala REPL

Scala provides an interactive console called the REPL. It allows you to test Scala code instantly.

scala

You can now type Scala expressions and see results immediately.

Why SBT Is Important

SBT helps manage real-world Scala applications by:

• Handling dependencies automatically
• Supporting incremental compilation
• Providing fast feedback during development

You will use SBT extensively in upcoming lessons.

📝 Practice Exercises

Exercise 1

Check whether Java is installed on your system.

Exercise 2

Verify the installed version of Scala.

Exercise 3

Start the Scala REPL and type a simple expression.

✅ Practice Answers

Answer 1

java -version

Answer 2

scala -version

Answer 3

1 + 2

What’s Next?

In the next lesson, you will learn about Scala syntax and how Scala programs are structured.

This will help you start writing clean and readable Scala code.