What Is Java?

When you write in most programming languages, you need to decide which processor and operating system your finished program is intended to run on. Then you include specific function calls to a library associated with the operating system of that target platform. If you're writing for a Windows environment, for example, you might refer to the Microsoft Foundation Classes. If your target machine is a Macintosh, you'll call functions in the Mac OS Toolbox. Figure 35.1 illustrates this process.

Figure 35.1. In most programming languages, you make calls directly to the native operating system.

When you're ready to test your program, you ...

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