Java Programming
Java is a general-purpose computer-programming language that is concurrent, class-based, object-oriented, and specifically designed to have as few implementation dependencies as possible. It is intended to let application developers "write once, run anywhere" (WORA), meaning that compiled Java code can run on all platforms that support Java without the need for recompilation.Java applications are typically compiled to bytecode that can run on any Java virtual machine (JVM) regardless of computer architecture. As of 2016, Java is one of the most popular programming languages in use, particularly for client-server web applications, with a reported 9 million developers.Java was originally developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems (which has since been acquired by Oracle Corporation) and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++, but it has fewer low-level facilities than either of them.
Why Java was Created? A Brief History
In 1991, the team "Green Team" led by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems created a programming language for digital consumer devices. The language was called Oak then. Why Oak? Because there was an oak tree outside Gosling's office.
The "Green Team" demonstrated the use of the language with an interactive television. However, it was too advanced for the digital cable television at the time, and more suitable a technology that was starting to take off, the Internet.
Later, the language was renamed Green and finally renamed Java from Java coffee; hence the coffee-cup logo.
Since C/C++ was popular back then, James Gosling designed the language with C/C++ style syntax, and philosophy "write once, run anywhere". After years, Sun Microsystems released the first public implementation of Java in 1995. It was announced that the Netscape Navigator Internet browser would incorporate Java technology.
In 2010, Sun Microsystems was completely acquired by Oracle Corporation along with Java.
Java Version History
- June 1991 - Java language project was initiated
- JDK 1.0 - January, 1996
- JDK 1.1 - February, 1997
- J2SE 1.2 - December, 1998
- J2SE 1.3 - May, 2000
- J2SE 1.4 - February, 2002
- J2SE 5.0 - September, 2004
- Java SE 6 - December, 2006
- Java SE 7 - July, 2011
- Java SE 8 (latest version) - March 18, 2014
- Java SE 9 - July, 2017 (announced release date
Features of Java Programming Language
- Java is platform independent
Java was built with the philosophy of "write once, run anywhere" (WORA). The Java code (pure Java code and libraries) you write on one platform (operating system) will run on other platforms with no modification.
To run Java, an abstract machine called Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is used. The JVM executes the Java bytecode. Then, the CPU executes the JVM. Since all JVMs works exactly the same, the same code works on other operating systems as well, making Java platform-independent.
- An object-oriented Language
There are different styles of programming. Object-oriented approach is one of the popular programming styles. In object-oriented programming, a complex problem is divided into smaller sets by creating objects. This makes your code reusable, has design benefits, and makes code easier to maintain.
Many programming languages including Java, Python, and C++ has object-oriented features. If you are serious about programming, you should definitely learn object-oriented style of programming.
- Java is fast
The earlier versions of Java were criticized for being slow. However, things are completely different now. The new JVMs are significantly faster. And, the CPU that executes JVM are also getting more and more powerful.
Now, Java is one of the fastest programming languages. Well optimized Java code is nearly as fast as lower level languages like C/C++, and much faster than Python, PHP etc.
- Java is secure
The Java platform provides various features for security of Java applications. Some of the high-level features that Java handles are:
- provides secure platform for developing and running applications
- automatic memory management, reduces memory corruption and vulnerabilities
- provides secure communication by protecting the integrity and privacy of data transmitted
- Large Standard Library
One of the reasons why Java is widely used is because of the availability of huge standard library. The Java environment has hundreds of classes and methods under different packages to help software developers like us. For example,
java.lang
- for advanced features of strings, arrays etc.
java.util
- for data structures, regular expressions, date and time functions etc.
java.io
- for file i/o, exception handling etc.
- Java is platform independent
Java was built with the philosophy of "write once, run anywhere" (WORA). The Java code (pure Java code and libraries) you write on one platform (operating system) will run on other platforms with no modification.
To run Java, an abstract machine called Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is used. The JVM executes the Java bytecode. Then, the CPU executes the JVM. Since all JVMs works exactly the same, the same code works on other operating systems as well, making Java platform-independent. - An object-oriented Language
There are different styles of programming. Object-oriented approach is one of the popular programming styles. In object-oriented programming, a complex problem is divided into smaller sets by creating objects. This makes your code reusable, has design benefits, and makes code easier to maintain.
Many programming languages including Java, Python, and C++ has object-oriented features. If you are serious about programming, you should definitely learn object-oriented style of programming. - Java is fast
The earlier versions of Java were criticized for being slow. However, things are completely different now. The new JVMs are significantly faster. And, the CPU that executes JVM are also getting more and more powerful.
Now, Java is one of the fastest programming languages. Well optimized Java code is nearly as fast as lower level languages like C/C++, and much faster than Python, PHP etc. - Java is secure
The Java platform provides various features for security of Java applications. Some of the high-level features that Java handles are:
- provides secure platform for developing and running applications
- automatic memory management, reduces memory corruption and vulnerabilities
- provides secure communication by protecting the integrity and privacy of data transmitted - Large Standard Library
One of the reasons why Java is widely used is because of the availability of huge standard library. The Java environment has hundreds of classes and methods under different packages to help software developers like us. For example,java.lang
- for advanced features of strings, arrays etc.java.util
- for data structures, regular expressions, date and time functions etc.java.io
- for file i/o, exception handling etc.
Applications of Java
Java technology is everywhere, powering 3 billion devices worldwide. It's more than likely that you have used Java one way or the other. Here are some of the applications of Java.
- Android apps - Java programming language using Android SDK (Software Development Kit) is usually used for developing Android apps.
- Web apps - Java is used to create Web applications through Servlets, Struts or JSPs. Some of the popular web applications written in Java are: Google.com, Facebook.com, eBay.com, LinkedIn.com etc.
It's important to note that, these sites may not be entirely written in Java, and may use other programming languages along with Java.
- Software Development - Softwares like Eclipse, OpenOffice, Vuze, MATLAB etc use Java.
- Big Data Processing - You can use popular software framework like Hadoop (which itself is written in Java) to process Big Data. To use Hadoop, you need to understand Java programming.
- Trading System - You can build trading applications having low latency using the Oracle Extreme Java Trading Platform.
- Embedded Devices - While C/C++ programming languages are still popular choices for working with embedded systems, Oracle's Java Embedded technologies provide platform and runtime for billions of embedded devices like: televisions, SIM card, Blu-ray Disc players etc.
Besides these applications, Java is also used for game development, scientific applications (like natural language processing), and many others
Java technology is everywhere, powering 3 billion devices worldwide. It's more than likely that you have used Java one way or the other. Here are some of the applications of Java.
- Android apps - Java programming language using Android SDK (Software Development Kit) is usually used for developing Android apps.
- Web apps - Java is used to create Web applications through Servlets, Struts or JSPs. Some of the popular web applications written in Java are: Google.com, Facebook.com, eBay.com, LinkedIn.com etc.
It's important to note that, these sites may not be entirely written in Java, and may use other programming languages along with Java. - Software Development - Softwares like Eclipse, OpenOffice, Vuze, MATLAB etc use Java.
- Big Data Processing - You can use popular software framework like Hadoop (which itself is written in Java) to process Big Data. To use Hadoop, you need to understand Java programming.
- Trading System - You can build trading applications having low latency using the Oracle Extreme Java Trading Platform.
- Embedded Devices - While C/C++ programming languages are still popular choices for working with embedded systems, Oracle's Java Embedded technologies provide platform and runtime for billions of embedded devices like: televisions, SIM card, Blu-ray Disc players etc.
Besides these applications, Java is also used for game development, scientific applications (like natural language processing), and many others
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