# What you need

Getting started with GreenLightning is easy.

## An IDE <a href="#an-ide" id="an-ide"></a>

Even though you can write Java and Pronghorn apps in any editor of your choice, we recommend the following IDEs:

* ​[Eclipse](https://www.eclipse.org/).
* [IntelliJ](https://www.jetbrains.com/idea/).
* ​[Visual Studio Code](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/languages/java).

## Java <a href="#java" id="java"></a>

Minimum requirement for the JDK is Java 7. Get it [here](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/jdk7-downloads-1880260.html). GreenLightning has module compatibility up to Java 9.

## Maven <a href="#maven" id="maven"></a>

If you have developed applications using Java before, [Maven](https://maven.apache.org/) will be familiar. GreenLightning uses Maven as well as Maven central for releases and snapshots. Dependencies inside GreenLightning and its related projects are all managed using Maven.

To install Maven on your machine, please follow [this](https://maven.apache.org/install.html) guide on the Maven page.<br>
