Java Reference
In-Depth Information
5.1
W
HAT
Y
OU
W
ILL
L
EARN
In this chapter you will learn about the purpose of the programs in the Sun Java
Software Development Kit. We will provide you with some details of their op-
tions and demonstrate their use in compiling our two sample applications. The
next step up in tool automation would be the build tool known as Ant (see
Chapter 9 for more information).
5.2
A
LL
Y
OU
N
EED
,
AND
N
OT
O
NE
T
HING
M
ORE
These days, many programmers are what we affectionately call “tool junkies.”
They can only develop software with the support of complex integrated devel-
opment environments, their supporting classes, and screen painting tools. By
this, we do not mean to imply that we are Luddites. The right IDE can indeed
be an enormous boost to productivity, but a programmer should be able to
work with any tool. The Sun Java SDK is the lowest common denominator; if
you can be productive with it, then you can be productive with absolutely any
Java development environment. That makes your skills more portable. And
that means more jobs are open to you. And that is good for you and your
employers.
The Sun Microsystems Java SDK (formerly known as, and often still re-
ferred to as the Sun Microsystems Java Development Kit, or JDK) provides
you with all the tools you need to compile, document, run, package, debug,
and deploy Java applications and applets. It does this with a collection of
purely text-based command-line tools. This is no-frills software development.
But a lot of us crusty old types really like that.
You should become comfortable and familiar with these tools. Some IDEs
are just fancy window dressing that calls these tools underneath (some are
not—some have written their own Java compilers, for example). If you can use
these tools comfortably to build any kind of Java program, then you know you
have a mastery of the basics and are not “addicted” to a particular tool. You also
know the “hardest” way to get the job done. This will help you to make good
choices about tools that enhance productivity. Some tools, we find, actually
slow you down or get in your way in some cases. If you know the lowest level,
you can better recognize the merits and flaws of more advanced tools. Enough
justification. On to the SDK.
