Getting Started — An introduction to Java technology and lessons on installing Java development software and using it to create a simple program.2

The Java Technology Phenomenon Provides an overview of Java technology as a whole. It discusses both the Java programming language and platform, providing a broad overview of what this technology can do and how it will make your life easier.
-Lesson1: The Java Technology Phenomenon

Talk about Java technology seems to be everywhere, but what exactly is it? The following sections explain how Java technology is both a programming language and a platform, and provide an overview of what this technology can do for you.

What Can Java Technology Do?

The general-purpose, high-level Java programming language is a powerful software platform. Every full implementation of the Java platform gives you the following features:

• Development Tools: The development tools provide everything you'll need for compiling, running, monitoring, debugging, and documenting your applications. As a new developer, the main tools you'll be using are the javac compiler, the java launcher, and the javadoc documentation tool.

• Application Programming Interface (API): The API provides the core functionality of the Java programming language. It offers a wide array of useful classes ready for use in your own applications. It spans everything from basic objects, to networking and security, to XML generation and database access, and more. The core API is very large; to get an overview of what it contains, consult the Java SE Development Kit 6 (JDK^TM 6) documentation.

• Deployment Technologies: The JDK software provides standard mechanisms such as the Java Web Start software and Java Plug-In software for deploying your applications to end users.

• User Interface Toolkits: The Swing and Java 2D toolkits make it possible to create sophisticated Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs).

• Integration Libraries: Integration libraries such as the Java IDL API, JDBC^TM API, Java Naming and Directory Interface^TM ("J.N.D.I.") API, Java RMI, and Java Remote Method Invocation over Internet Inter-ORB Protocol Technology (Java RMI-IIOP Technology) enable database access and manipulation of remote objects.