C H A P T E R  1

Writing Your First Java Program

To write a program in Java, you need the Java Development Kit (JDK). Strictly speaking, the JDK is all you need; however, other tools can make writing a Java application easier. Most software developers like to use an Integrated Development Environment (IDE). One of the most popular IDEs is Eclipse. Fortunately, both the JDK and Eclipse are free downloads. This chapter describes how to download and install both products and how to set up your first Java project in Eclipse. By the end of this chapter, you will have typed in and run your first Java program.

Installing the JDK

JDK is a collection of programs that enables you to write programs in Java. The two programs you'll use most are javac.exe ...

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