What is programming?

Computer program is a set of instructions that guide a computer to execute a particular task. It is like a
recipe for a cook in making a particular dish. The recipe contains a list of ingredients called the data or
variables, and a list of steps that guide the computer what to do with the data. So programming is the
technique of making a computer to perform something you want to do.

Programming or coding is a language that is used by operating systems to perform the task. We know
computer understands binary languages with digits 1s and 0s. These binary languages are difficult to
understand by human; so we generally use an intermediate language instead of binary language. Again
the program uses high-level language that is interpreted into bytes that the computer understands. So a
programmer writes a source code and uses a tool or interpreter that allows the computer to read,
translate and execute the programs to perform a function.

Today there are different user friendly and easily understandable languages supporting different styles
of programming. Some of the computer languages are like formula translation (FORTRAN), C, C++,
PASCAL, BASIC, Java, C sharp(C#) and many other high-level languages. Further an interpretable p-code
or byte code is generated in case some advanced languages like Java and .NET.

These languages enable one to create and perform various kinds of applications. However, in the whole
process of programming it is important to understand that a program written in any of the high-level
languages needs to be converted to machine language to run on a computer. This conversion is done
with a complier or an interpreter. In all kinds of programming languages a complier and if required an
interpreter is available. But the basic difference between these two is that the complier converts the
entire program into machine code. An interpreter, on the other hand, converts one statement at a time
to machine language and executes it.

The most important aspect of programming is to analyze and adopt specific solution while solving any
problem. This needs a programming approach that defines the modularity of program that one writes
and how it is related to others in an application. Basically there are two different programming
approaches; procedure oriented and object oriented. The procedure oriented programming (POP)
approach focuses on creating and ordering procedures or a block of code keeping in mind to accomplish
a specific job. The key features of this kind of approach are: use of procedures, sequencing of
procedures and sharing global data.

However, in case of the object oriented programming (OOP) approach the focus is totally towards
identifying objects or data and not on creative activities. Unlike the procedure oriented programming
approach where a peace of code uses data, the object-oriented approach the data uses a peace of code
to execute tasks. Principal features of the object-oriented approach are: data classification into classes
and objects, data encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, and polymorphism. This kind of approach
provides a realistic representation, flexibility to change and data security. Now a days most of the high
level programming languages such as Java, C#, C++, and Visual Basic are based on object oriented
approach.
What is Java, it’s history?

Java is a high-level object-oriented programming language developed by the Sun Microsystems. Though
it is associated with the World Wide Web but it is older than the origin of Web. It was only developed
keeping in mind the consumer electronics and communication equipments. It came into existence as a
part of web application, web services and a platform independent programming language in the 1990s.

Earlier, C++ was widely used to write object oriented programming languages, however, it was not a
platform independent and needed to be recompiled for each different CPUs. A team of Sun
Microsystems including Patrick Naughton, Mike Sheridan in the guidance of James Goslings decided to
develop an advanced programming language for the betterment of consumer electronic devices. They
wanted to make it new software based on the power of networks that can run on different application
areas, such as computers and electronic devices. In the year 1991 they make platform independent
software and named it Oak. But later due to some patent conflicts, it was renamed as Java and in 1995
the Java 1.0 was officially released to the world.

Java is influenced by C, C++, Smalltalk and borrowed some advanced features from some other
languages. The company promoted this software product with a slogan named “Write Once Run
Anywhere” that means it can develop and run on any device equipped with Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
This language is applicable in all kinds of operating systems including Linux, Windows, Solaris, and HP-UX
etc.

Java is great programming language for the development of enterprise grade applications. This
programming Language is evolved from a language named Oak. Oak was developed in the early nineties
at Sun Microsystems as a platform-independent language aimed at allowing entertainment appliances
such as video game consoles and VCRs to communicate . Oak was first slated to appear in television set-
top boxes designed to provide video-on-demand services. Oak was unsuccessful so in 1995 Sun changed
the name to Java and modified the language to take advantage of the burgeoning World Wide Web.

Java is an object-oriented language, and this is very similar to C++. Java Programming Language is
simplified to eliminate language features that cause common programming errors. Java source code files
are compiled into a format called bytecode, which can then be executed by a Java interpreter .

Java as an Internet Language : Java is an object oriented language and a very simple language. Because
it has no space for complexities. At the initial stages of its development it was called as OAK. OAK was
designed for handling set up boxes and devices. But later new features were add.
Java is an object oriented language and a very simple language. Because it has no space for complexities.
At the initial stages of its development it was called as OAK. OAK was designed for handling set up boxes
and devices. But later new features were ad

Java as an Internet Language : Java is an object oriented language and a very simple language. Because
it has no space for complexities. At the initial stages of its development it was called as OAK. OAK was
designed for handling set up boxes and devices. But later new features were added to it and it was
renamed as Java. Java became a general purpose language that had many features to support it as the
internet language. Few of the features that favors it to be an internet language are:

Cross Platform Compatibility: The java source files (java files with .java extension) after compilation
generates the bytecode (the files with .class extension) which is further converted into the machine
code by the interpreter. The byte code once generated can execute on any machine having a JVM. Every
operating system has it's unique Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and the Java Runtime Environment (JRE).
Support to Internet Protocols: Java has a rich variety of classes that abstracts the Internet protocols like
HTTP , FTP, IP, TCP-IP, SMTP, DNS etc .

Support to HTML: Most of the programming languages that are used for web application uses the html
pages as a view to interact with the user. Java programming language provide it's support to html. For
example. Recently the extension package jipxhtml is developed in java to parse and create the html 4.0
documents.

Support to Java Reflection APIs: To map the functionalities, Java Reflection APIs provides the
mechanism to retrieve the values from respective fields and accordingly creates the java objects. These
objects enables to invoke methods to achieve the desired functionality.

Support to XML parsing: Java has JAXP-APIs to read the xml data and create the xml document using
different xml parsers like DOM and SAX. These APIs provides mechanism to share data among different
applications over the internet.

Support to Web Services : Java has a rich variety of APIs to use xml technology in diverse applications
that supports N-Tiered Enterprise applications over the internet. Features like JAXB , JAXM, JAX-RPC ,
JAXR etc enables to implement web services in java applications. It makes java a most suited internet
language.

Support to java enabled Mobile devices: Java programming language is made in such a way so that it is
compatible with mobile devices also. Java language also works with any java enabled mobile devices
that support MIDP 1.0/2.0 including the symbian OS mobile devices.

Support to Personal Digital Assistants: Java language is compatible with Personal Java 1.1 such as
chaiVM, Jeode, CrEME, and JV-Lite2 or with all the later version and it also support PDAs like
HP/Compaq, iPAQ, Fujitsu-Siemens Pocket Loox and SimPad, HHP, NEC, Samsung, Sharp Electronics,
Toshiba, psion m5, and any other device with Windows CE/Pocket PC 2002/2003/2005) and many
more...
Where is Java being Used?

The programming language Java was developed by Sun Microsystems in the year 1995. Earlier, it was
only used to design and program small computing devices but later adopted as one of the platform
independent programming language. The most important feature of Java is its byte code that can be
interpreted on any platform including windows, Linux etc. One can also download it freely from the
official website of Sun now Oracle .

As we have mentioned above that java-programming language was only developed for the small devices
but now it can be found in a variety of devices like cell phones, e-commerce application, PCs and almost
all network or computing devices.

Java is available in different form:

JSP : Like PHP and ASP, Java Server Pages based on a code with normal HTML tags, which helps in
creating dynamic web pages.

Java Applets : This is another type of Java program that used within a web page to add many new
features to a web browser. These are small program used in the programming of instant messaging, chat
service, solving some complex calculation and for many other purposes.

J2EE : The software Java 2 Enterprise Edition are used by various companies to transfer data based on
XML structured documents between one another.

JavaBeans : This is something like Visual Basic and a reusable software component that can be easily
assemble to create some new and advanced application.

As far as syntax is concerned, Java is similar as the C programming language but a distinct style of
coding. It follows all the general programming features like loops, data types, conditions, curly braces,
semi-colon etc. Its a fully featured Object Oriented Programming (OOP) language as it supports all OOP
features including classes, modules, inheritance, Polymorphism etc.

Mobile Java - Besides the above technology, Java is also used for various entertainment devices
especially mobile phone. Mobile Information Devices Profile (MIDP) uses Java run time environment in
cell phones, mobile tracking systems and other traditional PDA devices. Java technology enabled
application is key to the games and services available in the mobile world. This also plays an important
role in the field of telemedicine such as PulseMeter. As far as mobile technology is concerned, it offers
offline facility, so that users can get service even if they face loss of connection. Today, all leading mobile
service provider like Nokia, Siemens, Vodafone are using Java technology. Sun Java Wireless Toolkit
offers complete support for developing different MIDP application.
Java technology is enabled with healthy content ecosystem by offering a healthy development and
deployment environment, protecting users and operators from down time and viruses. The increase
volume of users now encouraging manufactures and developers to apply Java technology in numerous
other productive and functional ways including MP3 players, digital TV, video, 3D, simplifying games,
etc.

How to learn Java easily?

To start with beginners in Java will be introduced to core Java that is basic Java.

Here they will be make you learn about what is Java, how it is different from other programming
language, how to install JDK, how to install IDE, JDK Directory structure, Java Class, Java keywords, Java
fields and methods, Java as Object Oriented language, Encapsulation, Inheritance, Polymorphism, how
to define methods, etc.

All these are basic of Java programming and it is very important to learn and understand them to clear
the concept of the language, only then they can move forward to more complex programming under
Advanced Java.