Introduction to JAVA
What is JAVA?
JAVA technology is both a programming language
and a platform.
The Java programming language is the language in
which Java applications, applets, servlets, and
components are written.
The Java platform is the predefined set of Java
classes that exist on every Java installation; these
classes are available for use by all Java programs.
The Java platform is also sometimes referred to as
the Java runtime environment or the core Java APIs
(application programming interfaces).
History of Java
‘B’ leads to ‘C’ evolved into ‘C++’ sets the stages for ‘Java’
In 1990, Sun Microsystems began a project called Green
Project to develop software for consumer electronics.
James Gosling, a veteran engineer was assigned to the
new Green Project.
Gosling began writing software in C++ for embedding into
such items as toasters, VCRs etc. But soon he realized that
C++ was the wrong tool for the job as it is susceptible to
bugs that can crash the system. Gosling’s solution to the
problems of C++ was a new language called Oak.
Oak preserved the familiar syntax of C++ but
omitted the potentially dangerous features
like explicit resource references, pointer
arithmetic and operator overloading, etc.
When the World Wide Web became popular
in 1994, Sun realized that Oak was the
perfect programming language for the Web.
Thus in 1994, they completed work on a
product known as Web Runner was later
renamed as Hot Java. Finally, in 1995, Oak
was renamed Java and the team announced
that the Netscape Navigator Internet browser
would incorporate Java technology.
Features of Java
Simple
Architecture Neutral
compiler loader
Source Code
.obj .exe
.cpp .cpp
C++ Compilation Process
javac JIT
Source Code .class
(JVM) Native Code
.java file
Java Compilation Process
Object Oriented
Robust
Secure
Multithreaded
Distributed
Dynamic
Automatic Memory Management and
Garbage Collection
Advantages of Java
Simple
Fewer bugs and reusable code
We need to write less code
Avoid platform dependencies. (Write once,
run everywhere)
Automatic version check
Working of Java
Class Loader
UNIX
Bytecode Verifier
System
SERVER
JIT
UNIX system
machine level
instructions
(JVM) (native code)
Class Loader
Class Files
Containing
Bytecodes Bytecode Verifier
Windows/Pe JIT
NETWORK ntium Pentium system
machine level
System instructions
(native code)
Working of JAVA on Internet
Internet
Client System
Server Main Program
consisting of Java
bytecode in a
JVM
class file Embedded in
Browser
Class Loader
Additional class Bytecode Verifier
files needed by the
Server
program may be
stored on disk or Execution Unit
network
JAVA Platform, JDK, JRE
Java Platform – A platform is a h/w or s/w environment in
which a program runs. Most platforms can be described
as a combination of the operating system and underlying
architecture. The Java platform differs from others in that
it’s a s/w only platform that runs on the top of other h/w
based platforms.
JDK – Java Development toolKit is a bundle of s/w to
develop java based applications.
JRE – Java Runtime Environment is an implementation
of JVM to execute java programs. JRE consists of two
components:
JVM
The Java Application Programming Interface (API)
JVM – Java Virtual Machine
a virtual machine (VM) is a s/w implementation of a
machine (computer) that executes programs like a real
machine.
A ‘.class’ file does not contain code that is native to
our processor. It instead contains bytecodes – the
machine language of the JVM. The Java launcher tool
then runs our application with an instance of the JVM.
Because the JVM is available on many different
operating systems, the same ‘.class’ files are capable
of running on different platforms.
API –
the API is a large collection of readymade s/w components
that provide many useful capabilities. It is grouped into
libraries of related classes and interfaces ; these libraries
are known as packages.
Steps to create and execute a Java
program
Creating a program using an editor
Compiling a Java Program into Byte codes
Loading a Program into Memory
Byte code Verification
Execution
Java Versions & Environments
Till now Java has undergone three significant version
changes.
It was first launched as Java 1.0, which is still
extensively supported by a majority of browsers.
Then came Java 1.1, which had a language
enhancements, an improved user interface, and
event handling.
Finally Sun has come up with the latest version as
Java 1.2.2 which it calls “Java 2”.
Java is available in many environments. Java
software is most easily available as JDK (Java
Development Toolkit) version 1.0, 1.1 or 1.2.
There are many other development
environments for Java.
Some of them are:
Java Workshop
Borland Jbuilder
Symantec Visual Café
Visual Java (VJ++)
Supercede etc.
