Which Java ?

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Borked Pseudo Mailed - 13 Mar 2007 17:20 GMT

I want to learn Java over the spring & summer break. I know
some other languages, but I'm having problems just trying to
understand which Java (unlike C, there is more than 1 ver. - SE,
ME, etc., and many rev's - 6, 5, 1.4, etc.). So I need some
help clearing the mess (p.s. - Sun could do a better job explaining
all of this).

First Q is which *E ver. do I need to do desktop programs?

Will this ver. work for an enbedded application if I have the
time to try it? If not, what ver?

What is the latest level of this ver?

How does it differ from the last ver. (reader digest ver.)?

Will this ver/rev. work with http://math.hws.edu/javanotes/ ?

Ant other tips, ideas, cautions to a beginner?

Thanks for the help!!!!!

Jeff,

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Tim Slattery - 13 Mar 2007 17:38 GMT

>I want to learn Java over the spring & summer break. I know
>some other languages, but I'm having problems just trying to
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
>First Q is which *E ver. do I need to do desktop programs?

SE = Standard Edition. This is the foundation of everything, whatever
you do, you'll need to know it.

>Will this ver. work for an embedded application if I have the
>time to try it? If not, what ver?

Embedded in what? Things like cell phones use ME (Micro Edition),
which contains objects useful in that environment. But in order to use
ME, you'll have to know the core syntax and concepts of the language,
and the objects in SE.

>What is the latest level of this ver?
>
>How does it differ from the last ver. (reader digest ver.)?
>
>Will this ver/rev. work with http://math.hws.edu/javanotes/ ?

I'm not familiar with that site, but it looks like a very reasonable
place to start. More than likely, they'll concentrate on Standard
Edition (SE). It says version 5, which is fine. Version 6 exists, but
IMHO is not terribly widespread yet. There are a few new syntax
options in V6, and a good many new objects and extensions to existing
ones. But get to know the basics first, then you'll be able to branch
out in whatever direction you want.

Signature

Tim Slattery
Slattery_T@bls.gov
http://members.cox.net/slatteryt

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Oliver Wong - 13 Mar 2007 17:54 GMT

>I want to learn Java over the spring & summer break. I know
> some other languages, but I'm having problems just trying to
[quoted text clipped - 4 lines]
>
> First Q is which *E ver. do I need to do desktop programs?

Java Standard Edition (SE).

> Will this ver. work for an enbedded application if I have the
> time to try it?

Probably not.

> If not, what ver?

Java Micro Edition (ME).

> What is the latest level of this ver?

6 is officially released, 7 is in alpha.

> How does it differ from the last ver. (reader digest ver.)?

No noticeable language difference between Java 5 and 6. The included
libraries may have a few extra methods, classes, etc.

> Will this ver/rev. work with http://math.hws.edu/javanotes/ ?

Yes.

> Ant other tips, ideas, cautions to a beginner?

The numbering system in Java is weird. You may see something called
J2SE 1.6. That's essentially Java version 6. The "2" can be ignored, and
Java releases have been numbered both as "X" and "1.X", so "Java 5" and
"Java 1.5" refer to the same version, for example.

- Oliver

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Which Java ?

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