5 replies to this topic

[ASupervillain]

This is probably a stupid question but I just installed JDK 6 and I can't find it anywhere in my programs, how exactly do I open it?

[Norm]

What OS?
During the install process on Windows it asks you where to install it with a default to the Program Files folder.

What do you want to open? Most of the JDK is commandline programs.

[ASupervillain]

It's on Windows XP, and maybe I missed that in the install process, I was thinking about reinstalling it to see if I missed something actually. I just wanted to open the compiler so I could start fiddling with code for my computer science class.

[Norm]

Quote

wanted to open the compiler

The compiler is commandline only. No GUI.

[lethalwire]

Once installed, you can create programs in a text editor (like notepad.exe) and the extension will end in .java
Now from the command line (command.exe or cmd.exe) you can compile this file with the javac command
Then you execute the java file with the java command
Example:

File: C:\Programming\JavaFiles\HelloWorld.java

Open cmd.exe

cd "C:\Programming\JavaFiles\"

javac HelloWorld.java

java HelloWorld

I'd recommend a simple text editor for beginners like: notepad++ or editpad.
If you aren't new to programming, I'd jump into an IDE like Eclipse, JEdit, Netbeans, etc.

With those 2 text editors, it'll give you a few more advanced options that could be useful for a programmer.

The IDEs help manage larger products, improve workflow, etc. The only drawback to most IDEs is they take some time to learn.

[Ritwik I the programmer]

You might try using BlueJ, it is quite user friendly, and more or less suitable for beginners. It is a freeware developed by kent university.