How to start programming in Java language

Use my local links to:

My first Java program (application) and how to configure PlusEdit, a free editor
My first WWW page may include Java applet

For additional information, refer to following folders on your computer

java/doc (start with: /java/doc/index.html)
java/demo/applets (see: SimpleGraph, CardTest, Clock and others. Run: example1.html)
java/demo/jfc (see: Java2D/Java2Demo.html, SwingSet2/SwingSet2.html)

or go to Sun Microsystems pages (http://java.sun.com/); on the World Wide Web:

Web Pages

http://java.sun.com/docs provides access to white papers, the Java Tutorial and other documents. You should start with:

A Checklist (if you have problems running or compiling your first application or applet)
Your First Cup of Java (for Microsoft Windows), and then continue with
Creating Your First Application
Creating Your First Applet
Learning the Java Language

http://java.sun.com/products/ Java Technology Products & API

< http://developer.java.sun.com/ The Java Developer Connection web site. (Free registration required. Additional technical information, news, and features; user forums; support information, and much more.

JavaBeans

Java programmers require a fast and fully-featured Integrated Development Environment (IDE) with support for Java(TM) compliant applications for accelerating development across all major OS platforms. NetBeans.org provides an open source, high performance, modular, extensible, multi-platform Java IDE to accelerate the development of Java applications, web services and mobile applications.
Download NetBeans IDE (if you have new JDK) or download complete Java technology NetBeans IDE Bundles (this includes actual JDK). Download from http://www.netbeans.org/downloads/

The NetBeans Mobility Pack can be used to write, test, and debug applications for the Java Micro Edition platform (Java ME platform) technology-enabled mobile devices.

Home page for NetBeans IDE Docs and Support Resources is http://www.netbeans.org/kb/ For more information about using NetBeans IDE 4.1, see the following resources: http://testwww.netbeans.org/kb/41/quickstart.html (click for printable version of this article) and then follow links at the bottom of article : * NetBeans IDE 4.1 Quick Start Guides: Web Applications Web Services J2EE Applications J2ME MIDP Applications * NetBeans IDE 4.1 Import Guides: J2SE Applications Web Applications J2EE Applications J2ME MIDP Applications * NetBeans IDE 4.1 Tutorials: Web Applications Tag Libraries Applets * NetBeans IDE Support and Docs page

Java history

The Java programming language originated as part of a research project to develop advanced software for a wide variety of network devices and embedded systems. The goal was to develop a small, reliable, portable, distributed, real-time operating platform. When the project started, C++ was the language of choice. But over time the difficulties encountered with C++ grew to the point where the problems could best be addressed by creating an entirely new language platform. Design and architecture decisions drew from a variety of languages such as Eiffel, SmallTalk, Objective C, and Cedar/Mesa.

The result is a language platform that has proven ideal for developing secure distributed, network-based end-user applications in ranging from network-embedded devices to the World-Wide Web and the desktop.

Basic Tools

These tools are the foundation of the Java Development Kit. They are the tools you use to create and build applications.

javac The compiler for the JavaTM programming language.

java The launcher for Java technology applications.

javadoc API documentation generator. Also see Javadoc 1.2

appletviewer tool to run and debug applets (*.html) without a web browser.

jar Manage Java Archive (JAR) files.

jdb The Java Debugger.

javah C header and stub generator. Used to write native methods.

javap Class file disassembler

extcheck Utility to detect Jar conflicts.

Java system libraries

The complete Java system includes a number of libraries of utility classes and methods of use to developers in creating multi-platform applications. Very briefly, these libraries are:

java.lang --the collection of base types (language types) that are always imported into any given compilation unit. This where you'll find the declarations of Object (the root of the class hierarchy) and Class, plus threads, exceptions, wrappers for the primitive data types, and a variety of other fundamental classes.

java.io --streams and random-access files. This is where you find the rough equivalent of the Standard I/O Library you're familiar with on most UNIX systems. A further library is called java.net , and provides support for sockets, telnet interfaces, and URLs.

java.util --container and utility classes. Here you'll find classes such as Dictionary , HashTable , and Stack , among others, plus encoder and decoder techniques, and Date and Time classes.

java.awt --an *Abstract Windowing Toolkit *that provides an abstract layer enabling you to port Java applications easily from one window system to another. This library contains classes for basic interface components such as events, colors, fonts, and controls such as buttons
and scrollbars.

Swing components include both existing AWT component *set (Button, Scrollbar, Label, etc.), plus a rich set of higher-level components (such as tree view, list box, and tabbed
panes). The pluggable look and feel lets you design a single set of GUI components that can automatically have the look and feel of any OS platform (Microsoft Windows, SolarisTM, Macintosh)