What is java ? | History of Java | Types of Java Applications |Java Platforms/Editions

What is java ? Learn Java Programming

Java is a widely-used, versatile, and platform-independent programming language. Developed by Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle Corporation) in the mid-1990s, it has since become one of the most popular programming languages in the world. Java's popularity stems from its "Write Once, Run Anywhere" (WORA) philosophy, which means that Java applications can run on any platform that has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) without modification.

History of Java:

1. 1.Origins (Early 1990s): The development of Java began in the early 1990s at Sun Microsystems. The team led by James Gosling was working on a project called the "Green Project" with the aim of creating a programming language that could be used for consumer electronics. The project was initiated to address the challenges of programming embedded systems.

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3. 2.Public Introduction (1995): Java was publicly introduced by Sun Microsystems on May 23, 1995, at the SunWorld conference. It was originally known as "Oak" but was later renamed "Java" due to trademark issues. The name "Java" was inspired by coffee, as there was a coffee machine near the development team's office, and it also conveys a sense of energy and liveliness.

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5. 3.Write Once, Run Anywhere (WORA): One of the key innovations of Java was the concept of "Write Once, Run Anywhere" (WORA). This was made possible by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which allows Java programs to be compiled into bytecode that can run on any platform with a compatible JVM. This portability was a major selling point for Java and contributed to its widespread adoption.

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7. 4.Growth and Popularity (Late 1990s - Early 2000s):Java gained popularity rapidly in the late 1990s and early 2000s. It became a dominant language for building enterprise applications, web applications, and applets for web browsers. The introduction of the Java 2 platform (J2SE) in 1998 brought significant enhancements and introduced the Swing GUI library.

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9. 5.Expansion into Mobile (Early 2000s): Java's popularity expanded further with the introduction of Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition (J2ME), which allowed developers to create applications for mobile devices and feature phones. This played a pivotal role in the growth of mobile application development.

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11. 6.Open Sourcing (2006):In November 2006, Sun Microsystems released the source code of the Java platform under the GNU General Public License (GPL) as "OpenJDK." This move marked a significant step toward making Java an open and community-driven technology.

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13. 7.Acquisition by Oracle (2010):In January 2010, Oracle Corporation acquired Sun Microsystems, including the Java technology. Oracle has since been the steward of the Java platform.

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15. 8.Java SE and EE (Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition): Java is divided into several editions, with the Standard Edition (SE) targeting desktop and server applications and the Enterprise Edition (EE) targeting enterprise-level applications. Each edition comes with its own set of libraries and APIs.

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17. 9.Java in Modern Times: Java continues to be a popular and influential programming language. It is used in a wide range of applications, including web development (Java EE), Android app development, scientific computing, financial services, and more. The language has evolved over the years with new features and improvements, with regular updates and releases.

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19. 10.Java Today: As of my last knowledge update in September 2021, Java remained a widely used and actively developed programming language, with the latest major version being Java 16. However, please note that the Java ecosystem may have evolved since then, and it's advisable to check the latest developments and versions if you are working with Java in 2023 or later.

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Example of Java Code :

Here's a slightly more complex Java example to illustrate the language's syntax and features:

java
import java.util.*;

public class ShoppingCart {
    private List<String> items = new ArrayList<>();

    public void addItem(String item) {
        items.add(item);
    }

    public void removeItem(String item) {
        items.remove(item);
    }

    public void displayCart() {
        System.out.println("Shopping Cart Contents:");
        for (String item : items) {
            System.out.println("- " + item);
        }
    }

    public static void main(String[] args) {
        ShoppingCart cart = new ShoppingCart();

        cart.addItem("Item 1");
        cart.addItem("Item 2");
        cart.addItem("Item 3");

        cart.displayCart();

        cart.removeItem("Item 2");

        cart.displayCart();
    }
}

This Java program defines a ShoppingCart class that allows users to add and remove items from their cart and display the cart's contents. It showcases Java's object-oriented nature, including classes, methods, and collections.

Types of Java Applications:

1. 1.Desktop Applications :
2. Java is used to create desktop applications with Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs). Developers often rely on libraries like Swing and JavaFX to build user-friendly interfaces. Examples of Java desktop applications include text editors, media players, and financial software.

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4. 2.Web Applications :
5. Java is a prominent choice for web application development. Java-based web applications leverage technologies such as Servlets, JavaServer Pages (JSP), and Java EE (Enterprise Edition). Frameworks like Spring and JavaServer Faces (JSF) simplify the development of complex web applications, including e-commerce platforms and content management systems.

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7. 3.Mobile Applications :
8. Java is used for Android app development through the Android Software Development Kit (SDK). Although Kotlin has gained traction for Android development, Java remains a vital language for creating Android applications, especially for developers with a background in Java.

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10. 4.Enterprise Applications :
    Java is a cornerstone of enterprise application development. Java EE (now known as Jakarta EE) is tailored for building large-scale, distributed applications with advanced features like transaction management, security, and scalability. Enterprise applications often involve complex business logic, database interactions, and integration with various technologies.
    
    
    
11. 5.Embedded Systems:
12. Java is suitable for developing applications in embedded systems, where resource constraints may exist. Java Micro Edition (Java ME) is designed for embedded systems, making it possible to create software for devices like smart cards and Internet of Things (IoT) devices.

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14. 6.Scientific and Research Applications :
15. Java's performance and extensive libraries make it a valuable choice for scientific and research applications. Researchers and scientists use Java for tasks such as bioinformatics, simulation modeling, and data analysis, where computational efficiency and flexibility are essential.

Java Platforms/Editions :

1. 1.Java SE (Standard Edition) :
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3. Java SE is the core platform for developing general-purpose Java applications. It provides the foundational Java API and is commonly used for desktop, web, and mobile application development. Java SE includes the essential components needed to create and run Java applications. The example code provided earlier falls under Java SE.

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5. 2.Java EE (Enterprise Edition) :
   
   Java EE, now known as Jakarta EE, focuses on enterprise-level applications. It offers a set of specifications and APIs for building scalable, distributed, and secure enterprise applications. Java EE components include Servlets for handling HTTP requests, Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) for business logic, Java Persistence API (JPA) for database operations, and Java Message Service (JMS) for messaging between components. Enterprise applications, such as online banking systems and customer relationship management (CRM) software, often rely on Java EE.
   
   
   
6. 3.Java ME (Micro Edition) :
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8. Java Micro Edition (Java ME) is tailored for developing applications on resource-constrained devices. It offers a subset of Java SE functionality optimized for mobile phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and embedded systems. Java ME allows developers to create applications for small-scale devices, including mobile games, simple utilities, and IoT applications.

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10. 4.Java Card:
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12. Java Card is a specialized platform based on Java ME, designed for smart cards and secure devices. It provides a secure execution environment for applications that require tamper-resistant and secure processing. Java Card is used in applications like access control systems and electronic identification cards.

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14. 5.Java FX :
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16. JavaFX is a framework for building rich internet applications and desktop applications with modern user interfaces (UIs). Although not a separate Java edition, JavaFX is often used in conjunction with Java SE. It offers tools for designing visually appealing and interactive UIs for applications such as media players, data visualization tools, and multimedia-rich applications.:

Conclusion

In conclusion, Java is a versatile programming language with a wide range of applications, from desktop and web development to mobile and embedded systems. It offers various editions and platforms to suit different development needs, making it a powerful and flexible choice for software development across diverse domains.