Java

Introduction

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Java is a platform independent object-oriented programming language developed as a part of the Green project at Sun Microsystems. The 10-yr story: Java and the networked world. While C++ is the superset of C, Java is a subset of C++. That's why it is also known as C++-- ("++" means something more, "--" means something less). But unlike C++, it is truly a object oriented programming langage: everything is an object.

Unlike any programming languages, the compiled program is called the byte code, not assembly code. A Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is needed to interprete the byte code into the native code so that it can be executed.

Some of the benefits over C++:

• Simpler: Java removed some of the "troublesome" feature of C++ like pointers, memory deallocation and multiple inheritance.
• OO: You can neither find any non-OO library nor write any non-OO functions.
• Platform Independent: If there is JVM (Jave Virtual Machine
• Secure: A Java program can never executes anything that is dangerous to your system. Because the Java API is restricted.

And Why Java is Better than C? Some arguments are not correct anymore, e.g., J2SE 1.5 has varargs. Looking at Varargs in J2SE 1.5.

Of course there are also some disadvantages:

• Slow: Interpreted Java is slow - about 20 to 50 times slower than C. (Sun Working on a New Programming Language)
• No pointer and multiple inheritance, etc: This prevents the implementation of some algorithms and data structures.

To address the performance issue, the Java Just-In-Time (JIT) Compiler is used to compile the Java byte code into the native code. So What Great Java Developers Ought To Know?

Nevertheless, due to the huge API and ease to use, Java is highly popular in small Java games, web applications and handheld devices like cell phones. In fact, its architecture and idea is so good that Microsoft has copied it and made the .NET framework. See J2EE (& Sun ONE) vs .NET Truth vs. Myth presented by Sun Microsystems. Not convinced? Read out the 101 Reasons Why Java is Better than .NET (Reloaded) on Manageability.

See also JSP, the Java's server-side scripting language; and Servlet. There are many Java application frameworks to do with Java web applications building, you may want to check out Wafer - Web Application Framework Research Project. Also, check out Wiring Your Web Application with Open Source Java to see how you can choose between so many Java-based technologies for each layer in your web applications.

Java Technology

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• Java Technology
• J2SE 6.0 Snapshot Releases
• IBM Developer Kits
• Java-Linux
• Java JIT Compiler
• BEA WebLogic JRockit
• StableVM - seems to work in Linux only
• Venus Application Publisher (Vamp) - a user-friendly tool that helps you package, sign and publish Java Network Launching Protocol (JNLP) software.
• Java Support on Pocket PC

Documentations

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• J2SE Documentation
• JDocs

Tutorial

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• Thinking in Java
• Thinking in Patterns with Java
• cs123 - java to c++ tutorial
• Moving from Java to C++
• Plotting Chart in Java - You can use jFreeChart or jCharts
• Is there a common way (not servlet-container dependant) to precompile a jsp file without waiting for the first hit?

Java IDE

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• Summary of the Java IDE market
• NetBeans
• Eclipse
• Borland JBuilder
• Oracle JDeveloper

Java Shrinker/Obfuscator

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• SandMark
• ProGuard
• ChainKey Java Code Protector - http://www.chainkey.com/9pHwi3/jcp120.zip

Java Decompiler

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• DJ Java Decompiler
• Jad
• JReversePro
• JODE
• REVEAL.ORG - The first online Java class decompilerand obfuscator.
• Java decompilers compared

Java to Windows Executables

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• Excelsior JET
• Executor
• JEXECreator
• GCJ

Java Virtual Machines

• Java Virtual Machine
• Kaffe
• ElectricalFire - a JVM that use JIT to speed up code execution