This book will be your guide to achieving an intermediate level of Java programming skills. Programming is not just about knowing the language syntax. It is also about the tools and sources of information necessary to write, compile, and execute a program or run a whole software system. The first step on this road is to learn the important components of Java, including Java Development Kit (JDK) and Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
This chapter will introduce Java as a language and a tool, and establish the most important terminology. It will also describe the motivation behind Java's creation, cover its history, editions, versions, and technologies, and outline Java's marketing position and main areas of application. Then, a sequence of practical steps will walk readers through the process of Java installation and configuration on their computers, and introduce the main Java commands.
In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:
- What is Java?
- Java platforms, editions, versions, and technologies
- Java SE Development Kit (JDK) installation and configuration
- Main Java commands
- Exercise – JDK tools and utilities
