The language itself borrows much syntax from C and C++ but has a much simpler object model and does away with low level tools like programmer-manipulable pointers.
Java is only distantly related to JavaScript , though they have similar names and share a C -like Syntax .
This history focuses on the programming language, for a more complete history of Java see: Java (Sun) .
As with other parts of the Java Platform , the Java language has evolved over the years while largely maintaining backwards compatibility.
- ( January 23 , 1996 ) — Initial release. ( press release )
- ( February 19 , 1997 ) ( press release )
- --- Inner Class es added to the language
- ( December 8 , 1998 ) — Codename ''Playground''. This and subsequent releases through J2SE 5.0 were rebranded '''Java 2''' and the version name "J2SE" ( Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition ) replaced JDK to distinguish the base platform from J2EE ( Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition ) and J2ME ( Java 2 Platform, Micro Edition ). Major additions included: ( press release )
- ---
Strictfp keyword
- ( May 8 , 2000 ) — Codename ''Kestrel''. ( press release )( full list of changes )
- ( February 6 , 2002 ) — Codename ''Merlin''. This was the first release of the Java platform developed under the Java Community Process as JSR 59 . Major changes included: ( press release )( full list of changes )
- ( September 30 , 2004 ) — Codename ''Tiger''. (Originally numbered 1.5, which is still used as the internal version number. Developed under [http://www.jcp.org/en/jsr/detail?id=176 JSR 176 , Tiger added a number of significant new language features: ( press release )
- --- Generics — provides compile-time (static) Type Safety for collections and eliminates the need for most Typecasts . (Specified by JSR 14 .)
- --- Metadata — also called Annotation s, allows language constructs such as classes and methods to be tagged with additional data, which can then be processed by metadata-aware utilities. (Specified by JSR 175 .)
- --- Autoboxing /unboxing — automatic conversions between Primitive Type s (such as
int) and Primitive Wrapper Class es (such as ). (Specified by JSR 201 .)
- --- Enumerations — the
enum keyword creates a Typesafe , ordered list of values (such as Day.MONDAY, Day.TUESDAY, etc.). Previously this could only be achieved by non-typesafe constant integers or manually constructed classes (typesafe enum pattern). (Specified by JSR 201.)
- --- Varargs — the last parameter of a method can now be declared using a type name followed by three dots (e.g.
void drawtext(String... lines)). In the calling code any number of parameters of that type can be used and they are then placed in an array to be passed to the method.
- --- Enhanced
for Loop — the for loop syntax is extended with special syntax for iterating over each member of either an array or any , such as the standard classes, using a construct of the form:
- — Codename ''Mustang'' . As Of 2006 this is currently in development under JSR 270 . A beta version was released on February 15, 2006( press release ) and is available at http://java.sun.com/javase/6/ . Another beta is expected summer 2006 with the final release in autumn 2006. New builds including enhancements and bug fixes are released approximately weekly. As of this version, Sun replaced the name "J2SE" with '''Java SE''' and dropped the ".0" from the version number.[http://www.java.com/en/about/brand/naming.jsp]
There are several JSRs related to the Java Language and core API packages.
The following Integrated Development Environment s (IDEs) can be used to create Java programs.
- BEA Workshop – commercial software, developed by BEA Systems , integrates with BEA WebLogic
- BlueJ – Free Software developed as a joint university research project, BlueJ is also an interactive development environment suitable for learning Java
- Eclipse – free Open Source software, Eclipse is developed by the Eclipse Foundation
- IntelliJ IDEA – commercial software, IntelliJ IDEA is developed by JetBrains
- JBuilder – commercial software (free version available), JBuilder is developed by Borland
- JCreator – commercial software (free version available), JCreator is developed by Xinox
- JDeveloper – free software JDeveloper is developed by Oracle Corporation and integrates with Oracle Application Server
- NetBeans – free open source software developed by NetBeans.org
- Sun Java Studio Enterprise – commercial software (available free to members of the free Sun Developer Network), developed by Sun Microsystems
- WebSphere Developer & Development Studio – commercial software, developed by IBM , integrates with WebSphere Application Server
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