XML and Java™ from scratch

Installing the Java 2 Software Development Kit

Before we can even think about running any Java applications, much less writing any, we need to install a few things. First, we need a Java Virtual Machine. We also need the base “classes,” or programs that form the underlying structure of the language. Finally, we need the compiler that will turn our programs into byte-code that the JVM understands.

Locating the Java 2 SDK

Where to get all this depends on what operating system you're running. Sun Microsystems maintains versions for Microsoft Windows, Linux, and, of course, Solaris. There are Java Virtual Machines available from other companies, such as Apple, Microsoft, and IBM, as well. To download from Sun, point your browser to

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.3/ ...