Sams Teach Yourself Java 2 in 24 Hours

By Rogers Cadenhead

• Table of Contents
  • Copyright
  • About the Author
  • About the Technical Editor
  • Acknowledgments
  • We Want to Hear from You!
  • Reader Services
  • Introduction
  • Hour 1. Becoming a Programmer
  • Hour 2. Writing Your First Program
  • Hour 3. Vacationing in Java
  • Hour 4. Understanding How Java Programs Work
  • Part II: Learning the Basics of Programming
  • Hour 5. Storing and Changing Information in a Program
  • Hour 6. Using Strings to Communicate
  • Hour 7. Using Conditional Tests to Make Decisions
  • Hour 8. Repeating an Action with Loops
  • Part III: Working with Information in New Ways
  • Hour 9. Storing Information with Arrays
  • Hour 10. Creating Your First Object
  • Hour 11. Describing What Your Object Is Like
  • Hour 12. Making the Most of Existing Objects
  • Part IV: Programming a Graphical User Interface
  • Hour 13. Building a Simple User Interface
  • Hour 14. Laying Out a User Interface
  • Hour 15. Responding to User Input
  • Hour 16. Building a Complex User Interface
  • Part V: Creating Multimedia Programs
  • Hour 17. Creating Interactive Web Programs
  • Hour 18. Handling Errors in a Program
  • Hour 19. Creating a Threaded Program
  • Hour 20. Reading and Writing Files
  • Part VI: Creating Multimedia Programs
  • Hour 21. Using Fonts and Color
  • Hour 22. Playing Sound Files
  • Hour 23. Working with Graphics
  • Hour 24. Creating Animation
  • Part VII: Appendixes
  • Appendix A. Tackling New Features of Java 2 Version 1.4
  • Appendix B. Using the Java 2 Software Development Kit
    • Choosing a Java Development Tool
    • Configuring the Software Development Kit
    • Using a Text Editor
    • Creating a Sample Program
    • Setting Up the CLASSPATH Variable
  • Appendix C. Programming with the Java 2 Software Development Kit
  • Appendix D. Using Sun ONE Studio
  • Appendix E. Where to Go from Here: Java Resources
  • Appendix F. This Book's Web Site

Appendix B. Using the Java 2 Software Development Kit

When the Java programming language was introduced to the public in 1995, Sun Microsystems also made available a free tool to develop Java programs: the Java 2 Software Development Kit.

The Software Development Kit is a set of command-line programs that are used to create, compile, and run Java programs. Every new release of Java is accompanied by a new release of the development kit—the current version is Java 2 SDK version 1.4.

Although more sophisticated Java programming tools are now available, such as Borland JBuilder, IntelliJ IDEA, and Sun ONE Studio, many programmers continue to use the Software Development Kit. I've been using it as my primary Java programming tool for years.

This appendix covers how to download and install the Software Development Kit, set it up on your computer, and use it to create, compile, and run a simple Java program. It also describes how to correct the most common cause of problems for a beginning Java programmer—a misconfigured Software Development Kit. The material that follows is primarily focused on Windows, because each Windows operating system can be ornery in regard to the kit.

Share This