Getting Started With Java

Question

I would like to get started programming Java, I'm not even sure whether web applets, or whatever. I haven't been able to get that far I've been so hindered. I find myself in a rather inconvenient situation, I am running OS X 10.4 Tiger on a PPC Mac. Unfortunately for myself, many programs do not work on this OS X version and this processor.

I just need some basic knowledge: How to program/compile Java programs without an IDE. Or an IDE that is free and works with my OS and processor.

Just to note, I have no programming experience with non-web languages, and I have scoured Google and come up short.

Answer 1

Genarally "hello world" is your first app in any language, eclipse is a free jave IDE that works with a Mac. That is all the info you need to do google search and find any number of tutorials.

I found this:

http://www.stanford.edu/class/cs108/JavaTools/eclipse-guide/

Answer 2

The best source I've found is the Java Tutorial originally developed by Sun but maintained by oracle. The page seems confusing so I would start Getting Started on the page which starts at the beginning including a HelloWorld app. The nice thing about the tutorial is that you follow any number of trails and learn what you want to learn.

As it turns out this will focus on the non-IDE approach.

Good luck.

Answer 3

I think that the best way to learn any language is to read a whole heap of material on the key constructs and libraries that the language uses. Then, after you are familiar enough with the libraries, write a simple text-based adventure game.

If you are after java learning material then you can try the Oracle tutorials, or the Java Wikibook. Otherwise there are some free books listed here on this question.

If you want to go down the path of writing Java web applications, then I would suggest a framework such as Spring.

As for compiling java applications from command line, you want to cd to your bin directory and then use the javac tool. (Note that if you have your class paths setup correctly then you can call javac from any directory)

For example, if I wanted to compile a Java application on linux I would write:

cd /usr/local/bin
javac HelloWorld.java

And to run compiled code:

java HelloWorld

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

As Lou said before, Java tutorial by Oracle are great tools for beginners.

Also, I'm currently taking my first software development course and we are using BlueJ to learn Java. I find this IDE really easy to use for a beginner, it works on Mac and it's free. Unfortunately the textbook that goes with isn't free but I'm sure if you google it, you can find some free tutorials.