Java programming for beginners, help ?

Question

Hey. I recently decided to learn to program. I searched for tips and programs on which to start first, and many ppl recommended Java. So I went to the site and downloaded the JDK latest version 6 or something. I went through choosing my operating system, language, and then clicked on the file to download... all went good, went throughout the wizard in installing it and now I have it.

Is it just me or do I need a different program to view this? I checked All Programs on Start and looked for it thinking its a program.... Which I'm the idiot now not knowing what to do... right?
Rookie mistake, come on I'm a beginner. I want to program.. do I need anything else to starting programming... I figured it would be a program but I guess not??

Any help and/or advice on this would REALLY help me A LOT !!!

Thank you for taking the time in reading this.

Answer 1

Here's a link to a tutorial that you can use to help learn the language. It also has links to download NetBeans, and IDE very similar to Eclipse.

Answer 2

The JDK that you downloaded doesn't have a program that will show up in the start menu. The JDK contains libraries and a compiler. I think you are looking for an IDE like Eclipse or Netbeans. I recommend Eclipse, but both are free.



It sounds like you are just getting started, so here is a great website that will help you learn to use Java. It has lots of examples and explains things very well.



Good luck!



http://math.hws.edu/javanotes/index.html

Answer 3

You write your JAVA code in a text file editor like note pad and save the file with a JAVA extension



You then compile that code file using a program called JAVAC which compiles the text file into a bytecode class file.



Then you can run the class by calling JAVA [Class file name]



These programs are called from within a DOS Command window.





To make life a little easier when using JAVA in a DOS environment it helps to have the JAVA directory included in the systems PATH. This helps the OS find your java programs without the need for you to have to type the path as part of the command.



When you ran the installation program, JAVA was placed in a directory like C:\Program Files\Java.



Find this directory (it may be slightly different on your system) and add it to the PATH environment variable for your OS. Open the Control Panel and click on system then open the Advanced tab and click on the environment variable button. Find the PATH variable and click edit and append the JAVA path to the existing PATH string. You need to separate the existing and new paths with a semicolon ;





C:\Temp;C:\Program Files\Java



Just add a semicolon to the end of the existing path statement before you paste the JAVA path into it and you will be fine.



By adding the JAVA path you will be able to find the JAVA programs without having to type the path as part of the command.





Test to see if your JAVA is installed and Path statment is working by checking the version from within a DOS Command window



JAVA -version (enter)



If this works and responds with version info all is well, if you get a file not found error you have a configuration error in the path or java isn't installed







Visual BASIC is Sooooo Much easier........................

Answer 4

you have only downloaded a jdk , now you have to download a Integrated Development enviourmnet(IDE)

in which you 'll write all you code.jbk is only a database of class libraries.

now you can use eclipse,net-beans or command line.



Headfirst java is best book for java beginners



best of luck

Answer 5

Download Eclipse. It is a development environment.