Getting Started

ScottInTexas · 12-03-2010, 12:58 PM

I decided I would learn Java to add to my other programming languages. But I have no idea where to start! I downloaded the JDK and JDKFX (as recommended at the Java website. So far I have seen a few tutorials, but none of them tell me HOW to run a java program, just run it. I use jEdit for an editor. At some point I have to compile the program, then run it. I looked at the Java Console, but I didn't see anything there.

Once I get started it will just be a matter of learning syntax. I am plenty familiar with OOP.

From what I gather at the moment, JavaFX is a group of classes for animation?

Please be gentle with me. I haven't even looked at Java for 10 years or so and all of my programming has been VB, VBA, C++ (two million years ago), HTML, ASP, and Javascript. Just point me in the right direction and I'm off.

Thanks

Fou-Lu · 12-03-2010, 01:22 PM

Compiling the program is very easy. From a cli you would use the javac.exe executable to build your program. If you jar it, you'll need some more stuff like a manifest and targeting your primary class' main. Run java with the simple java.exe.
This link should help you get started: http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/ja...le-136656.html
If your IDE is designed for java, chances are it compiles it on the fly when you run it. This is very handy.

JavaFX is too new for my experience as well. I've found myself picking myself back up in java over the last couple of months, but I probably won't be doing much fx. http://javafx.com/faq/ indicates that its far more than animation, it seems to be a new level of java like the javax for swing, which is cool since it will give you the nice application handling seen in touch phones from the looks of it.

Hope that helps!

ScottInTexas · 12-03-2010, 01:45 PM

Thanks for the reply. In the interim I found the basic Hello World App. Unfortunately the instructions did not work on my machine. For some reason I have no Javac All I did was run the installation ad accepted it's defaults. I have searched the drive and can't find the compiler. I assumed I had downloaded everything I need. I'll have to go back and go through it again. Thanks again.

Fou-Lu · 12-03-2010, 07:16 PM

Head back to sun's / oracles website and ensure you download the JDK. The java.exe should be with the JRE and JDK, but the javac and support are JDK only.
You may need to confirm your path as well; co-worker just installed the JDK yesterday and first thing he mentioned is it wasn't added to the path. Navigate to your Java install directory and try to run javac again to see if its actually not there.
I think the JDK also shows up under the programs on windows (windows your on I assumed?).

ScottInTexas · 12-03-2010, 07:40 PM

I navigated to the location of java and tried to javac there. No good. I ran back through the installation to make sure I didn't leave something unchecked. I went back to the Java web site and I was going to make sure I downloaded everything. When I clicked on the link it ran a test and said I had everything downloaded. Oh well, I'll mess with it later. I'm getting too frustrated right now.

Fou-Lu · 12-03-2010, 09:19 PM

Sorry, I just poked around here on the filesystem.
Under the Java directory you'll have various subfolders: JRE for the runtimes + versions, and JDK for the development + versions.

If you don't see a directory with jdk.x.x.x for example (for your JDK version), then you don't have jdk. If you see it, navigate to that directory, and further into the bin. From here you should be able to execute javac -help. If it has a resulting help menu, you have the javac compiler.