This article is discussing about Java programming language. Java is one of the top programming language used to develop and deploy application in enterprises and on Internet servers.
About Java
This article is discussing about Java, which is a programming language developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems. Java now part of Oracle and it is being developed and maintained by Oracle Corporation.
Java as Technology
Java is a versatile, efficient, platform independent, and secure technology. Due to these qualities Java is consider as ideal technology for network computing. You can found everywhere around you. From mobile to internet, laptop-computers to data centers, game consoles to supercomputers. Around 1.1 billions desktops runs Java globally. In spite of that it runs on billions of devices globally, which includes cell phones and TV devices.
Some interesting facts about Java is listed below :
- Around 1.1 billions desktop runs Java.
- Every year, on an average, JRE(Java Runtime Environment) is
downloaded 930 millions times.
- Around 3 million cell phones runs Java.
- Each year 31 times more Java enabled cell phones are sold out compare to
Android and Apple combined.
- Almost all Blu-ray player runs Java.
- Every year around 1.4 billion Java cards are manufactured.
- In spite of that Java is utilized by medical devices, printers, set-top
boxes, Web cams, car navigation systems, games, parking payment
stations, lottery terminals, etc.
Java as Platform
Sun's Java Platform is the collection of related programs which allows development and execution of programs written in Java language. Java Platform is platform independent means it is not restricted to any specific processor or operating system. Java platform is actually depends on JVM(Java Virtual Machine) and a compiler with a set of libraries. Its performance is similar on all kinds of machines.
Given below the major components of the Java platform, which supports various type of platforms :
- Java Card
This technology provide secure run of the Java applications(Applets) on smart cards and other small-memory devices. - Java ME(Java Platform, Micro Edition)
This platform have various libraries to support devices with limited power, display and storage capacities. This platform supports applications for printers, PDAs, mobile devices, TV set=top boxes, etc - Java SE (Java Platform, Standard Edition)
This platform supports applications for desktop computers, Laptops, servers and similar kind of devices. - Java EE (Java Platform, Enterprise Edition)
This platform contains various API and runtime environment for the development and execution of multi-tiered, scalable, reliable, secure, client-server based enterprise applications , which includes network and web services.
Java as Programming language
Java programming language is a platform independent, architecture neutral , class based ,object-oriented computer programming language. Java programming language is platform independent means it is not restricted to any specific processor or operating system. Java programming language is actually depends on execution engine or JVM(Java Virtual Machine) and a compiler with a set of libraries which makes its performance remains same on all kinds of platforms it supports.
Important characteristics of the Java is given below :
- Write once runs every where, means you can write software on one
platform which can run on many platforms.
- It is simple, efficient and object-oriented.
- Java is robust and secure.
- It is interpreted, threaded, and dynamic.
- Java is portable, platform independent and architecture-neutral.
Java have GNU General Public License (GPL) which means it is free and open
source software.
Important released versions of Java with its release date is listed below :
| Version | Date |
| JDK 1.0 | January 21, 1996 |
| JDK 1.1 | February 19, 1997 |
| J2SE 1.2 | December 8, 1998 |
| J2SE 1.3 | May 8, 2000 |
| J2SE 1.4 | February 6, 2002 |
| J2SE 5.0 | September 30, 2004 |
| Java SE 6 | December 11, 2006 |
| Java SE 7 | July 28, 2011 |