Java
Writing programs in Java - becoming a cyber-deity!
When you write a program you are creating a mini cyber-universe. You become a cyber-god! Awesome!
When your programs runs, only the objects you have created will appear on screen... and they will only be able to perform actions via action-methods that you have put into the program. These methods can be called upon (invoked) by parts of the program or by the user directly.
Your cyber-universe may call upon other cyber-universes to suppy data and it may interact with other cyber-universes by supplying amended data to them.
Wow! No wonder programming is exciting. You become a 'cyber-god' that coverses with other 'cyber-gods'.
About Java
Java is an excellent general-purpose high level language. It is 'class-based' and '
object-oriented' and has been designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. It allows computer coders to develop applications that will run on any system. That leads to greater flexibility and creativity.
Java is currently one of the most popular programming languages in use, particularly for client-server web applications. You will find the logo on the right wherever you go on the internet, as Java applications are widely used. My favourite is the 'Duke' mascot in the heading. Early webpages on Java always featured him!
History
The project that eventually would be called Java originated in June 1991. James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton worked together in its development. It was released as 'Java' in 1995 - named after the term for coffee - something that was consumed in large quantities by the language's creators during the creative process!
It was developed at a company called Sun Microsystems (which is now a subsidiary of Oracle Corporation).
The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities.
Java applications are typically compiled to bytecode (class file) that can run on any Java Virtual Machine (JVM) regardless of what computer it is being run on.
Classification
Java is a high level language. The programmer writes the Java source code. That then needs to be compiled into Java bytecode so that it can run in the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This is done using JavaC. The JVM then interprets/compiles the bytecode so that it can run on the host machine - your computer.
Learning Java
I have used the official Java tutorial pages to base the following pages on. But, as a newbie to programming, I hope to add another perspective to the explanations.
I find that I have to 'get my head around' the explanations to make use of the information, and not having a computer programming degree background, I sometimes have to take another route to understand what the site says. That being said, it is well written and you may not need/like my pedantic (I am a Cyber-God) approach!
You may anyway find it useful to look at the original site and see whether you find my interpretations helpful or not. I have always found that the more angles you look at something from, the more complete is you understanding of that subject.
Topics:
Syntax
College Used Facility
An integrated Java environment specifically designed for introductory teaching.
See BlueJ
