Java SE Versions Overview

Creating Your First Java Program

1. Create a New File:
   • Open your text editor or IDE.
   • Create a new file named Main.java.
   • Paste the following code block into the file:

public class Main {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        System.out.println("Hello, World!");
    }
}

• Save the file.

1. File Naming Convention:
   • The filename must be the same as the class name (Main.java).
   • There should be a public access modifier before the class.
   • Naming conventions recommend starting classes with an uppercase character in camel case format.
2. Compile the Program:
   • Open a terminal window.
   • Navigate to the directory containing Main.java using the cd command:

cd /path/to/containing/folder/

• Compile the program using the javac command:

$ javac Main.java

• If you encounter the 'javac' is not recognized error on Windows, browse to your javac.exe path (usually in C:\\\\Program Files\\\\Java\\\\jdk(version number)\\\\bin) and run:

$ C:\\\\Program Files\\\\Java\\\\jdk(version number)\\\\bin\\\\javac Main.java

Note: Ensure that the Java path is added to the environment.

Installing Java Development Environment

• JDK: Java Development Kit, provides the basic development environment for Java.
• After installing JDK, environment variables need to be set in order to display compilation-related options in CMD.
• Compilation: the process of translating high-level language into low-level machine language. The compiled machine language (bytecode) of Java is understood by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

Basic Structure