Download and install Hop

Hop is self-contained. The only thing it needs is a Java runtime.

The official Java version for Hop is 21.

You should see something like:

If that command is not found, or reports an older version, install a Java 21 runtime first. See Supported Java Versions for which runtimes are known to work, and which one to avoid.

Download the client from the Apache Hop downloads page and unzip it to a folder of your choice.

That folder is your Hop installation. Everything you need is in it:

By default Hop keeps its configuration inside the installation folder. That means an upgrade - a new unzip - leaves your projects and settings behind in the old folder.

Point Hop at a user-level configuration folder instead, once, before you start:

Restart Hop afterwards. You can do the same thing from the GUI later with Tools → Configure Hop environment…​.

See Hop Setup for what it changes and how to undo it.

The first start takes a little longer than the ones after it, because Hop scans and registers its plugins.

Unzipping the client is the right way to start, but it is not the only option:

Now that Hop is running, let’s look at the words Hop uses for things.