About Java Programming

Java is a programming language originally developed by Sun Microsystems and released in 1995. Java applications are typically compiled to bytecode, although compilation to native machine code is also possible. At runtime, bytecode is usually either interpreted or compiled to native code for execution, although direct hardware execution of bytecode by a Java processor is also possible.
The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++ but has a simpler object model and fewer low-level facilities. JavaScript, a scripting language, shares a similar name and has similar syntax, but is not directly related to Java.

The original Java compilers, virtual machines, and class libraries were developed by Sun Microsystems from 1995. Others have also developed alternative implementations of these Sun technologies, the most well known of which are the free software Java implementations>, such as the
GNU Compiler for Java and GNU Classpath.
Between November 2006 and May 2007, Sun Microsystems made available most of their Java technologies under the
GNU General Public License, in compliance with the specifications of the Java Community Process, thus making almost all of Sun's Java also free software.

Java Releases

The Java project has seen many release versions. Since 1997 they are:

• J2SE 1.1.4 (Sparkler) September 12, 1997
  
  • JDK 1.1.5 (Pumpkin) December 3, 1997
  • JDK 1.1.6 (Abigail) April 24, 1998
  • JDK 1.1.7 (Brutus) September 28, 1998
  • JDK 1.1.8 (Chelsea) April 8, 1999
• J2SE 1.2 (Playground)
  December 4, 1998
  
  • J2SE 1.2.1 (none)
    March 30, 1999
  • J2SE 1.2.2 (Cricket) July 8, 1999
• J2SE 1.3 (Kestrel) May 8, 2000
  
  • J2SE 1.3.1 (Ladybird) May 17, 2001
• J2SE 1.4.0 (Merlin)
  February 13, 2002
  
  • J2SE 1.4.1 (Hopper) September 16, 2002
  • J2SE 1.4.2 (Mantis) June 26, 2003
• J2SE 5.0 (1.5.0) (Tiger) September 29, 2004
• Java SE 6 (1.6.0) (Mustang) December 11, 2006