Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
CHAPTER 3
A Java 8 Primer: An Introduc-
tion to Java 8 Concepts and
Principles
Let's build on the knowledge you gained about NetBeans IDE 8.0 in the previous
chapter by exploring the basic concepts and principles behind the
Java 8
programming
language. Java JDK 8 will be the foundation for your Java 8 games, as well as for your
NetBeans IDE 8.0, so it is important that you take the time to study this chapter, a Java 8
“primer” that gives you an overview of this internationally popular computer (and
device) programming language.
You will of course learn about more advanced concepts, such as
Lambda Expres-
sions
, and about other Java 8 components, such as the recent
JavaFX
multimedia en-
gine, as you progress through the topic, so be aware that this chapter will cover the most
foundational
Java programming language concepts, techniques, and principles, span-
ning the three major versions of Java SE currently in widespread use today, on com-
puters, iTVs, and handheld devices.
These versions of Java, used by billions of users, include
Java 6
, which is used in
the 32-bit Android 4.x OS and applications;
Java 7
, which is used in the 64-bit Android
5.x OS and applications; and Java 8, which is used across many popular OSs, such as
Microsoft Windows, Apple OS X, Oracle Solaris, and a plethora of popular Linux “dis-
tros,” or distributions (custom Linux OS versions, such as SUSE, Ubuntu, Mint,
Mandrake, Fedora, and Debian).
You will start with the easiest concepts, the highest level of Java, and progress to the
more difficult ones, the guts of the Java programming constructs. You will begin, with a
study of Java
syntax
, or lingo, including what Java
keywords
are, how Java
delimits
its
