#java6

Gephi is an open source network analysis and visualization/graphing software project using Java.  Given how Apple has a very complicated relationship with Java, this can make using Gephi difficult on a Mac. 

The current Gephi build is 0.8.2 beta, however it uses Java 6.  Meanwhile, recent OS X versions use Java 7.

I spent a couple hours a few months ago trying to start the Social Network Analysis class on Coursera but couldn't get Gephi working, so I gave up til I had more time. 

Today I had a chance to search for a work around.  It took a frustrating hour to hack together the solution, so I'll post it so hopefully someone else can find it more easily in the future.

1.  Download Java 6 for OS X.   There are multiple options for this, but this one from Apple will work.  You might already have Java 6 installed, which you can check in the system preferences.  If you do, you don't need to re-download and install.  Skip to step 2.

2.  Change Gephi to use Java 6.

 2a.  Find and open gephi.conf -- it is probably located at /Applications/Gephi.app/Contents/Resources/gephi/etc/gephi.conf

 2b.  Edit the jdkhome line so that it points to Java6.  This is probably as follows:

jdkhome="/System/Library/Frameworks/JavaVM.framework/Versions/1.6.0/Home/"