INTRODUCTION TO

What is Java?
• Java is an object-Oriented programming language.
• Java programming language was originally developed by Sun Microsystems
which was initiated by James Gosling and released in 1995 as core
component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform (Java 1.0 [J2SE]).
• Java was released as a language that guarantees the “write once run
anywhere” (WORA) capability.
• This means that the software created using Java can run in any device despite
hardware and software architecture.
• In 2006 sun microsystems released java as a free and open source software
under the terms of the General public use license.
• Java was later acquired by Oracle and is currently maintained by Oracle.
Java Configurations
• With the advancement of Java and its widespread popularity, multiple
configurations were built to suit various types of platforms.
• They include:
• Java EE( Java Enterprise Edition)- used to develop enterprise applications such as
servlets, java server pages, among other online software .
• Java ME (Java Micro Edition)- used for mobile application development
• Java SE (Java standard Edition)- used for development of desktop applications.
• Java SE is the most used JAVA variant. JAVA SE 17.0.1 is the latest version of
the SE.
• Our aim here is to develop desktop applications thus we will focus purely
on the JAVA standard Edition
Features of Java
• Object Oriented: In Java, everything is an Object and such an object must belong
to a class. Java can be easily extended since it is based on the Object model.
• Platform Independent: Unlike many other programming languages including C
and C++, when Java is compiled, it is not compiled into platform specific machine,
rather into platform independent byte code.
• This byte code is distributed over the web and interpreted by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
on whichever platform it is being run on. JVM is discuss later in this lesson.
• This makes it possible for Java to run any machine regardless of the software and hardware
architecture
• Simple: Java is designed to be easy to learn. If you understand the basic concept
of OOP, Java would be easy to master.
• Secure: With Java's security features it is possible to develop virus-free, tamper-
free systems. Authentication techniques are based on public-key encryption.
Cont.
• Architecture-neutral: Java compiler generates an architecture-neutral
object file format, which makes the compiled code executable on many
processors, with the presence of Java runtime system.
• Portable: Being architecture-neutral and being implementation neutral
makes Java portable. Thus applications developed in Java can be moved
from one machine to another easily.
• Robust: Java makes an effort to eliminate error prone situations by
emphasizing mainly on compile time error checking and runtime checking.
• Multithreaded: With Java's multithreaded feature it is possible to write
programs that can perform many tasks simultaneously. This design feature
allows the developers to construct interactive applications that can run
smoothly.
Cont.
• Interpreted: Java is translated from high-level language to machine
code one statement at a time.
• High Performance: In order to improve performance, Just-In-Time
compilers interact with the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) at run time
and compile suitable bytecode sequences into native machine code.
• Dynamic: Java is considered to be more dynamic than C or C++ since
it is designed to adapt to an evolving environment.
• Java programs can carry extensive amount of run-time information that can
be used to verify and resolve accesses to objects on run-time.
• Also the three configurations of Java make it possible to develop software in
almost any scope.
Tools Needed to program in Java
• Java Development Kit (JDK)-
• is a set of tools for developing Java applications.
• Every JDK always includes a compatible JRE, because running a Java program is part
of the process of developing a Java program.
• Java Runtime Environment (JRE)-
• it is a software layer that runs on top of a computer’s operating system software.
• It provides the class libraries and other resources that a specific Java program needs
to run.
• The JRE combines Java code created using the JDK with the necessary libraries
required to run it on a JVM and then creates an instance of the JVM that executes
the resulting program.
• JVMs are available for multiple operating systems, and programs created with the
JRE will run on all of them.
• In this way, the JVM within the Java Runtime Environment is what enables a Java
program to run in any operating system without modification.
JRE Runtime Architecture
• ClassLoader
• The Java ClassLoader dynamically loads all classes necessary to run a Java program.
Since Java classes are only loaded into memory when they're required, the JRE uses
ClassLoaders to automate this process on demand.
• Bytecode verifier
• Bytecode is a code that lies between low-level and high-level language. The bytecode
is not processed by the processor. It is processed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
• The bytecode verifier ensures the format and accuracy of Java code before it passes
to the interpreter. In the event that code violates system integrity or access rights,
the class will be considered corrupted and won't be loaded.
• Interpreter
• After the bytecode successfully loads, the Java interpreter creates an instance of the
JVM(calls the JVM) that allows the Java program to be executed natively on the
underlying machine.
• This is where the Just-in-time compilers are used to optimize performance
JVM
• The Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
• Executes live Java applications.
• Every JRE includes a default JVM, but developers are free to choose another
that meets the specific resource needs of their applications.
• JVM can be viewed in three dimensions
1. A specification where working of Java Virtual Machine is specified. But
implementation provider is independent to choose the algorithm.
2. An implementation Its implementation is known as JRE (Java Runtime
Environment). Its implementation has been provided by Oracle.
3. Runtime Instance Whenever you write java command on the command
prompt to run the java class, an instance of JVM is created.
Cont.
• Java applications are called WORA (Write Once Run Anywhere).
• This means a programmer can develop Java code on one system and can
expect it to run on any other Java-enabled system without any adjustment.
• This is all possible because of JVM.
• JVM performs the following activities
• Loads code
• Verifies code
• Executes code
• Provides runtime environment
Cont.
• Integrated Development Environment:
• Used for editing Java programs
• Some of the most popular Java IDE include
• NetBeans
• Eclipse
• Jcreator
• Visual Studio
• Dr. Java
• Netbeans is the most recommended IDE because it has powerful tools
contained in its Abstract Window toolkit (AWT) and Swing packages that
make it possible to create powerful GUI through drug and drop.
• It also supports Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) which makes it possible to link
java to MySQL database.
How to install the Necessary tools
• Download the latest versions of JDK and JRE from oracle official
website.
• Download Netbeans IDE.
• Install the software in the following order
• JDK
• JRE
• Netbeans
• Test the success by running a simple java program in Netbeans IDE.
Java Basic Syntax
When we consider a Java program, it can be defined as a collection of objects that
communicate via invoking each other's methods.
The syntax revolves around the following elements.
• Object – Objects are real world entities that have identity, states and behaviors.
• Example: Tommy which belongs to class dog has states - color, breed as well as behavior such
as wagging their tail, barking, eating.
• An object is an instance of a class.
• Class - A class can be defined as a template/blueprint that describes the
behavior/state that the object of its type supports.
• Methods - A method is basically a behavior.
• A class can contain many methods. It is in methods where the logics are written, data is
manipulated and all the actions are executed.
• For example: barking(), eating ().
Cont.
• Instance Variables –They are created when objects of a class are created.
Each object has its unique set of instance variables. An object's state is
created by the values assigned to these instance variables.
• Example: if we take a class known as dog with the state as color, name, breed and
behavior as barking.
• Then we can create two objects namely Tommy, and Bosco. Now the instance
variables can be as follows
• Tommy.color= black
• Tommy. Breed= German _shephard
• Bosco.color=Brown
• Bosco.Breed=Golden_Retriver
• So in this case color and breed are instance variables. As you can see each object has
its own values for the instance variables.
Java Syntax Rules
• Case Sensitivity - Java is case sensitive, which means identifier Hello and hello
would have different meaning in Java.
• Class Names - For all class names the first letter should be in Upper Case. If
several words are used to form a name of the class, each inner word's first letter
should be in Upper Case.
• Every Java Program must have a class.
• Example: class MyFirstJavaClass
• Method Names - All method names should start with a Lower Case letter. If
several words are used to form the name of the method, then each inner word's
first letter should be in Upper Case.
• Example: public void myMethodName()
• Public string barking()
• Use Comments to enhance code readability. Java uses same comments syntax as
C and C++
Syntax Rules Cont.
• Program File Name - Name of the program file should exactly match the class
name.
• When saving the file, you should save it using the class name (Remember Java is case
sensitive) and append '.java' to the end of the name (if the file name and the class name do
not match, your program will not compile).
• Example: Assume 'MyFirstJavaProgram' is the class name. Then the file should be saved as
'MyFirstJavaProgram.java'
• public static void main(String args[]) – This is the main method.
• Java program processing starts from the main() method which is a mandatory part of every
Java program.
• Ensure all open carry braces and parenthesis are closed- hanging braces will
result to a syntax error.
• Follow the rules of naming variables- any variable declared must adhere to the
variable naming conventions.
• Terminate all executable statements using a semicolon
Key Points to Note
• The name of the class is usually the name you have saved the file as.
• For example if you create a project and save it as java101 then the name of
the package in which it will be saved will be package java101 while the class
name will be public class Java101
• Just like in C and C++ the code to be executed is usually written inside
the braces of the main method.
• Global variables, methods, and functions can be created outside the
main method.
• Any libraries and packages that are to be used are imported when
needed and are placed between the package name and the class
name
Writing a Simple Java Program
• Open NetBeans
• Go to files and select new project
• Select Java
• Select Java application
• Click Next
• Name the project as java101
• Select use the name as the class name
• Then the following code will be automatically generated for you by
NetBeans
Simple Java Program Structure.
package java101;

public class Java101 {

public static void main(String[] args) {

// TODO code application logic here

}
Interpreting the code
package java101; /*this represents the package where this program will be
stored*/
public class Java101 { /* this represents the class. Public means that it is
accessible to all parts of the program */

public static void main(String[] args) { //main method or main function

// body of the program
// write what you want the program to do here
}
}
A simple Java program.
package java101; • The following program outputs
“Welcome to Java” in console.
public class Java101 { • System.out.println- is the
outputting function used in Java.
• It is similar to printf in C
public static void main(String[] args) {

System.out.println("Welcome To
Java");
}
}
Example two: A program to output I love Java
package java101;

public class Java101 {

public static void main(String[] args) {

System.out.println(“I love Java");

}
}
 Practice Exercise
• Write a Java program to output the following lines of code
My name is Evans
I am Learning Java
• Write a Java program to output the following in different lines. Note,
try an minimize the number of lines of codes used by suing escape
sequence
• Your Name
• Your home county
• Your home sub-county
• Your constituency