Java Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 1
What you need to get started
For doing Java exercises, you will need to have Java runtime installed on your computer.
Java runtime is the Java libraries which include the compiler and the programs which help
in executing the Java source code on the operating system. You can download Java runtime
known as Java Runtime Environment (JRE) from Oracle website http://www.oracle.com/
technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html. after download you should install the JRE
on your computer. It is better to install Java Development Kit (JDK). JDK provides an en-
vironment where you can get comprehensive error messages when your code is not able to
compile due to any compilation error. Detailed error messages are helpful to pin point where
the error occurred in your source code so that you can go there and fix it. If you do not get
detailed error message then it is difficult to pinpoint the error in your code. If you do not
have information about the error then finding and fixing it becomes extremely difficult.
Once you have installed JRE or JDK then you will have to install Integrated Development
Environment (IDE). IDE is the integrated development platform which you use to write your
source code, debug your code, compile your code, test your code and run your code. Good
IDE is important because it provides many helpful features which will help you in all phases
of your software development. When you write your code then a text editor built in your
IDE will help you keep your syntax correct, find pieces of code, methods, classes and vari-
ables which are located elsewhere and you want to call them in your program.
The 2 best Java IDEs are from Netbeans Organiztion's Java Net Beans and Eclipse Organiz-
ation's Eclipse IDE. These IDEs are used by most large scale project teams to build any kind
of software products including the largest ones as well. There are also smaller vendors who
have developed IDEs for Java. All these IDEs come free of cost. You can visit websites of
any of these vendors and download the IDE of your choice. My personal favorite is Eclipse
IDE.
If you want to develop standalone windows based software application then you will not
need any other software product to download. But if you want to develop web based soft-
ware application then you will need application server. Some of the popular application serv-
ers include IBM's WebSphere, BEA's WebLogic, JBOSS's JBOSS, Apache organization's
