What is Java?

Java is a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems which is specially designed to run on the web. When you see a web page that uses Java, a small program called 'applet' is executed automatically. Java applets let you watch characters and moving text, play music and interact with information on the screen (e.g. control animation and select options).

Characteristics of the Java language

Java is an object-oriented language similar to C++, but it is more dynamic and simplified to eliminate possible programming errors. A Java program is both compiled and interpreted. First the source code (file with a .java extension) is compiled and converted into a format called bytecode (file with a .class extension), which can then be executed by a java interpreter. Compiled Java code can run on most computers because there are Java interpreters, known as Java Virtual Machines, for most operating systems including MacOS, Windows, or UNIX.
Java is multi-threaded, meaning a Java program can have multiple threads (parts), that is, many different things processing independently and continuously. This enables the program to make the best use of available CPU power. .

Why is Java cool?
People are excited about Java because it lets you create moving images and animated drawings. You can also create graphical objects (e.g. bar charts, graphs, diagrams) and new 'controls' (e.g. buttons, check boxes, pushbuttons with special properties). A web page that uses Java can have inline sounds that play in real-time, music that plays in the background, cartoon style animations, real-time video and interactive games.
The Java Micro Edition platform (Java ME) is used in mobile devices. It provides flexible tools to create applications that run on mobile phones, PDAs, TV set-top boxes and printers. Nowadays, most phones are configured to use Java games.

Alternatives to Java
One alternative technology is Microsoft's C#, pronounced 'C sharp', a .NET language based on C++ with elements from Visual Basic and Java. There are no substantial differences between C# and Java. When software developers do measurements on pieces of codes, sometimes Java is faster, sometimes C# is. Another competitor is Adobe Flash technology, which supports graphics, and the streaming of audio and video. Flash is used to create animation and advertisements, to integrate video into web pages, and to develop rich internet application such as portals. Flash files, traditionally called flash movies, have a .swf file extension. They may be an object on a web page or be played in the stand-alone Flash Player..

Game.java ------------------- ------------

Compiler

Game.class       ---------      -                                     ---------

Interpreter

Game

7.

1. to download

a. the Web

2. play

b. a source program

3. to run

c. files

4. to browse

d. an application

5. to compile

e. data

Verb

Regular/Irregular

01. Run

02. Download

03. Browse

04. Compile

• call
• decide
• develop
• be
• begin
• can
• rename
• have
• support
• base

C++ was developed from the C language. It was designed as a systems programming language with features that make it easy to control the computer hardware efficiently. It was used to produce the Microsoft Windows operating system. It is portable, i.e. programs written in C++ can be easily adapted for use on many different types of computer systems.

HTML stands for HiperText Markup Language. It is a page description language used for creating Webpages. HTML uses a system of tags to mark page links and formatting. For example, the tag <u> tells the program to start underlining a text. Although programs cannot be created using HTML, small programs can be embedded in HTML code using a scripting language like Javascript.

Java is a Programming language originally designed for programming small electronic devices such as mobile phones. It can run unchanged on any operating system that has a Java interpreter program. Java is used for writing programs for the World Wide Web.

JavaScript is a simplified form of the Java language. It is powerful and easy to use. Scripts are small programs that can be used to perform simple tasks or tie other programs together. Javascript is designed for use inside webpages. It can enable a webpage to respond to a mouse click or input on a form. It can also provide a way of moving through webpages and produce simple animation.

Visual Basic is a programming environment, not simply a language. It uses the language BASICS, a simple language developed to make it easy for people to learn how to program. Visual basics has predefined objects such as dialog boxes, buttons, and text boxes which can be chosen form a toolbox and dragged across the screen using the mouse and dropped into the required position. BASIC programming code is attached to form a complete program. Visual Basic is used to write general purpose applications for the Windows operating system.

Delphi is similar to Visual Basic. It is also a programming environment for developing programs for the Windows operating system. It has predefined objects that can be chosen form a toolbox. In Delphi, however, the code attached to the objects is written in a form of Pascal. You can think of Delphi as a kind of 'Visual Pascal'. Like Visual Basic, it is often used for general purpose programs.