diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f6235e8..2b6f370 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -44,38 +44,55 @@ DISCLAIMER: usage of any version of this role implies you have accepted the
 ## Role Variables
 
 - **debug**: flag to make role more verbose.
-- **oracle_java_set_as_default**: make the newly installed Java the default runtime environment (default: `yes`).
 - **oracle_java_os_supported**: role internal variable to check if a OS family is supported or not.
+- **oracle_java_set_as_default**: flag to indicate if this play should set Java as default (default: `yes`).
+- **oracle_java_use_defaults**: flag to indicate you want to use defaults set in the `defaults` directory (default: `yes`).
+  **WARNING**. setting this to `no` will require the user to pass all of the distribution variables.
+  See `* | Java 8` examples in the _Playbooks_ section.
 
 ### Debian
 
-- **oracle_java_apt_repository**: Personal Package Archive (PPA) from where to install Java (default: `deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/linuxuprising/java/ubuntu bionic main`).
-- **oracle_java_apt_repository_key**: PPA repository key (default: `EA8CACC073C3DB2A`.
-- **oracle_java_cache_valid_time**: the amount of time in seconds the apt cache is valid (default: `3600`).
-- **oracle_java_deb_package**: name of debian package (default: `oracle-java10-installer`).
-- **oracle_java_debconf_package_default**: (default: `oracle-java10-set-default`).
-- **oracle_java_home**: the location of the Java home directory (default: `/usr/lib/jvm/java-10-oracle`).
-- **oracle_java_state**:** the package state (see Ansible apt module for more information) (default: `latest`).
+**WARNING** to override **any** of the following variables (even if it's only one),
+you'll need to set `oracle_java_use_defaults: no` and override **all** of their values since
+OS family defaults will no longer be loaded.
+See `debian | Java 8` example in the _Playbooks_ section.
+
+- **oracle_java_apt_repository**: Personal Package Archive (PPA) from where to install Java.
+- **oracle_java_apt_repository_key**: PPA repository key.
+- **oracle_java_cache_valid_time**: the amount of time in seconds the apt cache is valid.
+- **oracle_java_deb_package**: name of debian package.
+- **oracle_java_debconf_package_default**: name of debconf package to set default.
+- **oracle_java_home**: the location of the Java home directory.
+- **oracle_java_state**:** the package state (see Ansible apt module for more information).
 
 ### Debian/Ubuntu
 
-- **oracle_java_apt_repository**: Personal Package Archive (PPA) from where to install Java (default: `ppa:linuxuprising/java`).
-- **oracle_java_cache_valid_time**: the amount of time in seconds the apt cache is valid (default: `3600`).
-- **oracle_java_deb_package**: name of debian package (default: `oracle-java10-installer`).
-- **oracle_java_debconf_package_default**: (default: `oracle-java10-set-default`).
-- **oracle_java_home**: the location of the Java home directory (default: `/usr/lib/jvm/java-10-oracle`).
-- **oracle_java_state**:** the package state (see Ansible apt module for more information) (default: `latest`).
+**WARNING** to override **any** of the following variables (even if it's only one),
+you'll need to set `oracle_java_use_defaults: no` and override **all** of their values since
+OS family defaults will no longer be loaded.
+See `debian | ubuntu | Java 8` example in the _Playbooks_ section.
+
+- **oracle_java_apt_repository**: Personal Package Archive (PPA) from where to install Java.
+- **oracle_java_cache_valid_time**: the amount of time in seconds the apt cache is valid.
+- **oracle_java_deb_package**: name of debian package.
+- **oracle_java_debconf_package_default**: name of debconf package to set default.
+- **oracle_java_home**: the location of the Java home directory.
+- **oracle_java_state**:** the package state (see Ansible apt module for more information).
 
 ### Redhat-only
 
-- **oracle_java_dir_source**: directory where to store the RPM files (default: `/usr/local/src`).
-- **oracle_java_download_timeout**: download timeout, in seconds (default: `60`).
-- **oracle_java_download_url**: where to download the rpm from (default: `http://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/java/jdk/10.0.2+13/19aef61b38124481863b1413dce1855f/jdk-10.0.2_linux-x64_bin.rpm`).
-- **oracle_java_home**: the location of the Java home directory (default: `/usr/java/default`).
-- **oracle_java_rpm_filename**: file name used for the download destination (default: `jdk-10.0.2_linux-x64_bin.rpm`).
-- **oracle_java_rpm_validate_certs**: flag to indicate if you want SSL certificate validation (default: `yes`).
-- **oracle_java_version**: the Oracle JDK version to be installed (default: `10`).
-- **oracle_java_version_string**: the Java version string to verify installation against (default: `1.{{ oracle_java_version }}.0_u{{ oracle_java_version_update }}`).
+**WARNING** to override **any** of the following variables (even if it's only one),
+you'll need to set `oracle_java_use_defaults: no` and override **all** of their values since
+OS family defaults will no longer be loaded.
+See `redhat | centos 7 | Java 8` example in the _Playbooks_ section.
+
+- **oracle_java_dir_source**: directory where to store the RPM files.
+- **oracle_java_download_timeout**: download timeout, in seconds.
+- **oracle_java_home**: the location of the Java home directory.
+- **oracle_java_rpm_filename**: file name used for the download destination.
+- **oracle_java_rpm_url**: where to download the rpm from.
+- **oracle_java_rpm_validate_certs**: flag to indicate if you want SSL certificate validation.
+- **oracle_java_version_string**: the Java version string to verify installation against.
 
 ## Playbooks
 
@@ -85,31 +102,70 @@ DISCLAIMER: usage of any version of this role implies you have accepted the
   roles:
       - role: ansiblebit.oracle-java
 
-# debian + debian/ubuntu | Java 10
+# debian | Java 10
 - hosts: servers
   roles:
       - role: ansiblebit.oracle-java
 
-# debian + debian/ubuntu | Java 8
+## explicitely passing default parameters
 - hosts: servers
   roles:
       - role: ansiblebit.oracle-java
-        oracle_java_apt_repository: "ppa:webupd8team/java"
 
-# debian | custom | Java 10
+# debian | Java 8
+- hosts: servers
+  roles:
+      - role: ansiblebit.oracle-java
+        oracle_java_use_defaults: no
+        oracle_java_apt_repository: 'deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/webupd8team/java/ubuntu bionic main'
+        oracle_java_apt_repository_key: 'EA8CACC073C3DB2A'
+        oracle_java_cache_valid_time: 3600
+        oracle_java_deb_package: 'oracle-java8-installer'
+        oracle_java_debconf_package_default: 'oracle-java8-set-default'
+        oracle_java_home: "/usr/lib/jvm/java-8-oracle"
+        oracle_java_set_as_default: no
+        oracle_java_state: latest
+
+# debian | ubuntu | Java 10
 - hosts: servers
   roles:
       - role: ansiblebit.oracle-java
-        oracle_java_apt_repository: 'deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/linuxuprising/java/ubuntu bionic main'
 
-# debian | custom | Java 8
+# debian | ubuntu | Java 8
 - hosts: servers
   roles:
       - role: ansiblebit.oracle-java
-        oracle_java_apt_repository: 'deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/webupd8team/java/ubuntu bionic main'
+        oracle_java_use_defaults: no
+        oracle_java_apt_repository: "ppa:webupd8team/java"
+        oracle_java_cache_valid_time: 3600
+        oracle_java_deb_package: 'oracle-java10-installer'
+        oracle_java_debconf_package_default: 'oracle-java10-set-default'
+        oracle_java_home: "/usr/lib/jvm/java-10-oracle"
+        oracle_java_set_as_default: no
+        oracle_java_state: latest
+
+# redhat | centos 7 | Java 10
+- hosts: servers
+  roles:
+      - role: ansiblebit.oracle-java
+
+# redhat | centos 7 | Java 8
+- hosts: servers
+  roles:
+      - role: ansiblebit.oracle-java
+        oracle_java_dir_source: '/usr/local/src'
+        oracle_java_download_timeout: 60  
+        oracle_java_rpm_filename: 'jdk-8u181-linux-x64.rpm'
+        oracle_java_home: '/usr/java/default'
+        oracle_java_os_supported: yes
+        oracle_java_rpm_url: 'http://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/java/jdk/8u181-b13/96a7b8442fe848ef90c96a2fad6ed6d1/jdk-8u181-linux-x64.rpm'
+        oracle_java_rpm_validate_certs: yes
+        oracle_java_set_as_default: no
+        oracle_java_version_string: 1.8.0_181
 ```
 
 Use `--skip-tags=debug` if you want to suppress debug information.
+```
 
 ## Test
 
diff --git a/defaults/main.yml b/defaults/main.yml
index 134e063..9e5d8db 100644
--- a/defaults/main.yml
+++ b/defaults/main.yml
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@
 # defaults file
 #
 
-oracle_java_downloads:
-  10.0.2:
-    redhat: http://download.oracle.com/otn-pub/java/jdk/10.0.2+13/19aef61b38124481863b1413dce1855f/jdk-10.0.2_linux-x64_bin.rpm
-
+oracle_java_os_supported: yes
 oracle_java_set_as_default: yes
+oracle_java_use_defaults: yes
diff --git a/tasks/debug.yml b/tasks/debug.yml
index 7ee63da..0997cd5 100644
--- a/tasks/debug.yml
+++ b/tasks/debug.yml
@@ -16,6 +16,5 @@
     - oracle_java_apt_repository_key
     - oracle_java_set_as_default
     - oracle_java_state
-    - oracle_java_version
     - oracle_java_version_installed
     - oracle_java_version_string
diff --git a/tasks/main.yml b/tasks/main.yml
index 44e4274..8ce50a8 100644
--- a/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/tasks/main.yml
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
     - "installation/{{ ansible_os_family | lower }}/{{ ansible_distribution | lower }}_{{ ansible_distribution_version | lower }}.yml"
     - "installation/{{ ansible_os_family | lower }}/{{ ansible_distribution | lower }}.yml"
     - "installation/{{ ansible_os_family | lower }}/main.yml"
+  when: oracle_java_use_defaults
   tags: [ installation ]
 
 - name: check host environment
diff --git a/tests/defaults/main.yml b/tests/defaults/main.yml
deleted file mode 100644
index 3323670..0000000
--- a/tests/defaults/main.yml
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
----
-# file: oracle-java/tests/tasks
diff --git a/tests/test.yml b/tests/test.yml
index a111b34..20f91af 100644
--- a/tests/test.yml
+++ b/tests/test.yml
@@ -30,9 +30,6 @@
 
   roles:
     - role: oracle-java
-      oracle_java_version: "{{ test_redhat_java_version }}"
-      oracle_java_set_as_default: yes
-      oracle_java_rpm_validate_certs: no
       when: ansible_os_family | lower == 'redhat'
 
     - role: tests
@@ -41,9 +38,6 @@
       when: ansible_os_family | lower == 'redhat'
 
     - role: oracle-java
-      oracle_java_version: "{{ test_debian_java_version }}"
-      oracle_java_set_as_default: yes
-      oracle_java_rpm_validate_certs: no
       when: ansible_os_family | lower == 'debian'
 
     - role: tests