Chapter 1. Introduction To Java

Before 1995 the average person thought Java was a large Indonesian island or perhaps a hot beverage you took with cream and sugar. Today anyone with any background in computer programming knows that Java is one of the most popular and influential programming languages. Java has become the standard for developing Web-based enterprise applications, particularly business and multimedia type programs. It is a very telling point that other languages, Fortran for example, are evolving to become more Java-like in form and function.

A lot of the same things that make Java a great programming language for business and multimedia applications ”simplicity, flexibility, versatility, robustness ”make Java a great language for developing scientific and engineering applications as well. In science and engineering, as in any other discipline, inertia is a powerful force. Technical programming is still dominated by two older languages, Fortran and C. But the world is changing, and more and more technical programmers are moving to Java as their language of choice. This book will teach you the basics of the Java language and show you how to apply Java to create sophisticated scientific and engineering applications.

This chapter will provide a big picture look at Java. We will talk about the history of Java, from its humble beginnings to how the rise of the Internet propelled Java into prominence in the programming world. We will cover the basic characteristics of the language, what Java is, and what it can do. Finally, this chapter will teach you some very basic things like how to load Java onto your computer and how to compile and run a Java program.

This chapter will cover ”

• A brief history of Java

• What Java is

• Installing Java on your machine

• Compiling and running Java programs