Java Platform part 1

Java Platform

So, Java has a long and difficult history of development, but it is time to consider what happened with the creators of what properties the technology.

The most widely known, and at the same time causing the most heated debates, the property - multi-or cross-platform. I have already mentioned that it is achieved by using a virtual machine JVM, which is simply the program, performed by the operating system and provides a Java-applications, all the necessary features. Since all parameters are specified JVM, it remains the only task - to implement virtual machines on all existing platforms and used.

The presence of the virtual machine determines many properties of Java, but now focus on the following question - is the Java language compiled or interpreted? In fact, both approaches are used.

The source code of any Java program is a text file that can be created in any text editor or a specialized tool, and have the extension. Java. These files are input Java-compiler, which translates them into a special Java byte code. It is this compact and efficient instruction set supported by the JVM, and is an integral part of the platform Java.

The result of the compiler is saved in binary files with the extension. Class. Java-based application consisting of these files, is input to a virtual machine, which begins to execute, or interpret, since she is the program.

Many developers initially vilified bold slogan Sun "Write once, run everywhere", revealing more and more gaps and inconsistencies across different platforms.However, it must be admitted that they were just too impatient. Java was in its infancy, and the first version of the specifications were not exhaustive.