Installing Hop GUI on Linux

Last updated: February 11, 2026

If you're looking to get started with Apache Hop on Linux, here's a step-by-step guide on how to set up the Hop GUI. Follow these instructions carefully to ensure you have a smooth installation and can launch Apache Hop successfully.

What you'll learn

• How to install OpenJDK Java 17, a required dependency for running Hop.

• How to download the latest version of Apache Hop and extract it to your preferred directory.

• How to set environment variables like HOP_CONFIG_FOLDER and HOP_AUDIT_FOLDER to ensure smooth configuration management.

• How to launch the Hop GUI for the first time and verify that everything is set up correctly.

Step 1: Install OpenJDK Java 17

Apache Hop requires Java to run properly. Follow these steps to install and verify Java:

Install OpenJDK Java 17

The installation method depends on your Linux distribution:

For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems:

bash

For Red Hat/Fedora-based systems:

bash

For Arch Linux:

bash

Verify the installation

Open a terminal and type the following command to confirm Java is installed correctly:

bash

You should see output similar to the one below:

If you see similar results, Java 17 is correctly installed.

Step 2: Download and extract Apache Hop

Download the latest version

Go to the official Apache Hop website and download the latest version.

Extract the archive

After downloading the archive, extract it to a directory of your choice. For example:

bash

Alternatively, you can extract it to your home directory:

bash

Set proper permissions

Ensure the Hop GUI script is executable:

bash

Or if installed in your home directory:

bash

Step 3: Set environment variables

Setting environment variables is crucial for managing global configurations in Apache Hop. Here's how:

Edit your shell configuration file

Depending on your shell, edit the appropriate configuration file:

For Bash users (most common):

bash

For Zsh users:

bash

Add the environment variables

Add the following lines at the end of the file:

What these variables do:

• HOP_CONFIG_FOLDER: This is the central folder for global Apache Hop configurations. It allows you to easily switch between different Hop installations or upgrade paths.

• HOP_AUDIT_FOLDER: This is the central folder for audit data (e.g., the last opened project files).

Setting these variables ensures smoother transitions between versions and allows for better management of Hop's settings.

Create the directories

bash

Apply the changes

Reload your shell configuration:

bash

Or for Zsh:

bash

Step 4: Start the Hop GUI

Once you've installed Java, extracted Apache Hop, and configured your environment variables, you're ready to launch the GUI:

Launch from terminal

Navigate to the Apache Hop installation folder and run:

bash

Or if installed in your home directory:

bash

Optional: Create a desktop launcher

For quicker access to the Hop GUI, you can create a desktop launcher:

Create a .desktop file:

bash

Add the following content (adjust paths as needed):

Save the file and make it executable:

bash

Now you'll have Apache Hop GUI available in your applications menu.

Summary of steps

1. Install OpenJDK Java 17 and verify the installation.

2. Download the latest Apache Hop version and extract the archive to your desired directory.

3. Set proper permissions for the hop-gui.sh script.

4. Set the environment variables HOP_CONFIG_FOLDER and HOP_AUDIT_FOLDER.

5. Launch the Hop GUI by running ./hop-gui.sh.

Conclusion

You've successfully installed and configured the Apache Hop GUI on your Linux system. By following the steps in this guide, you've ensured that all necessary components, such as Java and environment variables, are properly set up for operation. With the Hop GUI ready to go, you're now equipped to design, manage, and execute data workflows using Apache Hop's intuitive graphical interface.