Java Glossary : Java

Java definitions: 0-9 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

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There are two sorts of answers required to the question "What is Java?", one for people unfamiliar with any computer language, and one for those who already speak some computer language.

Java is a tool that lets you direct the computer to do computations, keep track of things or draw graphs. Many of the more complex animations and calculating tools you see on the Internet are Java Applets running inside your browser or are Java Servlets running on server machines. The main advantages of Java over other computer languages are:
1. It was designed for the web.
2. Java programs run unmodified on any computer (without even recompiling -- converting the human-friendly *.java form of the program to the machine-friendly *.class/*.jar form). With ordinary computer languages, you need a separate version of each program specially modified for each platform.
3. Java programs have an elaborate safety net to prevent them from doing any damage to themselves or others. The other commonly used languages have no such safety net.
Why learn Java? It might be sufficient to know that there are three Java jobs waiting for every Java programmer.
Java is a computer language like a stripped down C++ that has been designed so that its object modules can run unmodified on many different platforms. Its primary characteristics are safety and security. The language was originally named Oak, but it turned out that name was already taken. Over coffee, somebody suggested Java as a replacement. Since programmers are the occupationally prone to caffeine addiction, the name seemed auspicious.James Gosling is considered the father of Java. More recently Bill Joy and Arthur Van't Hoff are seen also as the Java illuminaries.

For a formal definition of the language read the Language Specification online or you can download it.

The Java Language Specification, Second Edition

0-201-31008-2

Bill Joy, Guy Steele, James Gosling, Gilad Bracha

This book is for language lawyers, people who write compilers or those who just like to nit pick. It is not a suitable book for beginners.

Getting Starting in Java ¤ Java Development Kit ¤ Java Virtual Machine

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