Java Background

Java
-was developed in 1991
-by James Gosling and released in 1995 by Sun Microsystems.
-initially called oak after an oak tree that stood outside his office

What is Java Technology?

The Java technology is:
Programming language
-is a general-purpose programming language that can be used
to create all kinds of applications on your computer.
Java platform
-it is a software environment where the Java program runs.

There are four platforms that Java offers, these are:

• Java Standard Edition (Java SE)
- it is used to develop client-side applications or an application that
can run standalone.
• Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE)
- it is used to develop server-side or network applications.
• Java Micro Edition (Java ME)
- it is used to develop applications for small devices, such as cell
phones, PDA and smart phones.
• JavaFX
- is a platform for creating desktop applications and rich internet
applications that run across a wide variety of devices.
Java Features
The main reason why they created Java was to deliver a portable and
secured programming language. In addition to these major features, other
Java features are the following:
1. Simple
Java is simple because of the following:
-It is easy to learn and the syntax is easy to understand, clean
and user-friendly.
-The syntax is mostly derived from C and C++ therefore it is
easier to learn Java after C or C++.
-It has Garbage Collector that automatically removed
unreferenced or unused objects.
2. Object Oriented
-It’s program focuses on Object that may contain data or
attributes and behaviour or methods.
3. Platform Independent
-A Java program is platform independent, which means you
just need to write a program once and run it on many different
operating systems. The Java Virtual Machine or JVM is responsible
for making the same program capable of running on multiple
platforms.
4. Code Security
Java is secured which allow us to develop a program that is
free from virus or tampering. Java is secured because of the
following features:
-Java programs run inside a virtual machine (JVM).
-The Class Loader is responsible for loading classes into Java
Virtual Machine.
-The Bytecode Verifier is responsible for traversing the
bytecode and checking the code fragments for illegal code that can violate
access right to object.
5. Robust
-Java uses strong memory management and automatic garbage collection
mechanism.
6. Architecture-neutral
-Architecture refers to the processor (CPU Architecture), Java programs
can run on any processors without considering the architecture or vendor
(providers).

7. Portable
-Language Portability is when you can do the WORA ("Write once, run
anywhere") program.

8. Dynamic
-Byte code makes Java become dynamic and can adapt to an evolving
environment.
9. High Performance
-Even though Java is an interpreted language the execution speed of Java
programs improved significantly because of just-in-time compilation (JIT).

10. Multithreaded
-Multithreading is a capability of a single program to execute several tasks
independently and continuously.

11. Distributed
-Distributed computing is a model wherein the components of a software
are located in multiple networked computers working together to achieve
common goals.