JAVA RTE

[Thos]

In connection with another post, I have just installed the latest version of Java Run time Environment.

It occurred to me that I haven't got a blind idea of what Java is supposed to do. Does it run in the background doing all sorts of useful things, do users call it up to do specific tasks or what?

Can anyone give me a non-techie description of Java's function on my or anyone else's computer.

Could I do without it, for example?

Thos.

[-pops-]

Try this, Thos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_%28programming_language%29

[Thos]

Try this, Thos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_%28programming_language%29

Thanks but I had seen that and understood hardly a word. I knew (or know) that JAVA is a programming language but don't know what it does sitting on my computer. Is it active? Is it part of the operating system? I suppose that not having any knowledge of computers except that they were things that crunched numbers, until about 6 years ago, I have no background in this sort of thing. However, I do like to know in basic terms what I am dealing with.

Thos.

[Irene]

Try this, Thos http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Java_%28programming_language%29

Thanks but I had seen that and understood hardly a word. I knew (or know) that JAVA is a programming language but don't know what it does sitting on my computer. Is it active? Is it part of the operating system? I suppose that not having any knowledge of computers except that they were things that crunched numbers, until about 6 years ago, I have no background in this sort of thing. However, I do like to know in basic terms what I am dealing with.

Thos.

It all looks Greek to me too Thos! It's amazes me just how much I take for granted. I've seen the word Java(enabled?) many times, but I have no Idea what it means or what it does. There are zillions of similar instances. However, as long as we learn just a little more each day and keep the old 'grey matter' on the move, we should be ok! ;)

[Thos]

It all looks Greek to me too Thos! It's amazes me just how much I take for granted. I've seen the word Java(enabled?) many times, but I have no Idea what it means or what it does. There are zillions of similar instances. However, as long as we learn just a little more each day and keep the old 'grey matter' on the move, we should be ok! ;)

When I look at your avatar, I wonder whether I should bother with things like JAVA. More important matters come to mind.

Thos.

[Scarecrow Man]

Jave RTE (you mean JRE?) is a compiler for the java language. It takes the code, which is written in java and compiles it into a program, or whatever the code specifies.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

There are two things to Java

1. the Java programming language (JDK)
   
2. the Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
   

People or companies that develop applications with Java use the JDK (Java Development Kit) to do that. The resulting applications can be run on a computer, like any other program, or they can be web-based, as the Secunia Software Inspector.

Now people who use Java applications need to install the JRE, otherwise the application won't be able to run.

Other programing languages also need runtime environment packages, e.g. VB or C. The reason why this is done (having the user to install an RTE) is to make applications smaller. Otherwise each application would contain the entire RTE, which - especially web-based apps - would make loading the applications much slower.

[Irene]

Thanks for that Pat. Good simple language for us novices!

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

You're welcome!

Now that we have cleared up the confusion between the JDK and the JRE, let's add another item that also creates a lot of confusion: javascript (JS). JS has in fact nothing to do with Java, it is just a scripting language that resembles the Java language. These scripts are not compiled as Java applications are, but directly embedded into webpages. For more information on JS see http://developer.mozilla.org/en/docs/About_javascript

You don't need to know the details on JS; the only important thing to know is that Java and javascript are two entirely different entities.

[Thos]

Thank you for you help, Pat and Scarecrow Man. I have a basic idea now but I still wouldn't like to sit an exam with that as subject.

Thos.