Trail Map: The Java Programmer's Guide

Welcome to The Java Programmer's Guide
The Java Programmer's Guide is a practical, on-line guide to writing programs in the Java language. For information about the structure and organization of this programmer's guide please refer to About this Guide.
Note: This is the second draft of the programmer's guide. For more information about what changes were made between the first draft and this one see This is a Draft!.

Getting Started
The most common Java programs are applications and applets. Applications are stand-alone programs, such as the HotJava browser. Applets are similar to applications, but they don't run on their own. Instead, applets adhere to a set of conventions that lets them run within a Java-compatible browser. If you're using a browser that can view applets, then you should see an animation just below this paragraph -- that's an applet embedded in this HTML page.

The "Hello World" Application -- Start here if you want to create stand-alone Java applications.

The "Hello World" Applet -- Start here if you are interested in writing applets only.

Besides applications and applets, you can also write two types of handlers -- programs that a Java-compatible browser loads when it encounters a protocol or content type that it hasn't seen yet. Each protocol handler understands a particular protocol (such as http: or doc:) and translates it into a form that your Java-compatible browser can display. Similarly, each content handler understands and translates a particular MIME type/subtype combination, such as text/plain or image/jpeg.

The "run:" Protocol Handler -- A step-by-step example of writing a protocol handler.

The "text/plain" Content Handler -- A step-by-step example of writing a content handler.

What Next?
Now that you've seen how to write a Java program, you can proceed with any of the topics below.

Writing Java Programs -- These lessons discuss techniques and concepts that any Java programmer can use.

Writing Applets -- These lessons discuss techniques and concepts that are specific to writing Java applets.

Creating a User Interface -- Here's the information you need to create the user interface of your applet or application.

The Java Development Environment -- Take a look here for information about the Java development environment, tools, how to structure and manage your programming environment, debugging techniques and memory management techniques.

Integrating Native Methods into Java Programs -- These lessons show you everything you need to know to write native methods in the Java language. A native method is a Java method whose implementation is provided in another programming language such as C. This lesson includes step-by-step instructions and a comprehensive example program.

Networking These lessons will have the information you'll need if your program deals with the network.

Extending the HotJava Browser -- These lessons will have information on writing protocol handlers and content handlers -- loadable modules that extend the capabilities of the HotJava browser.

How the Java Language Differs from C and C++ -- This trail points out the differences between the Java language and C and C++.

Troubleshooting -- Follow this trail to find all of the pages that discuss troubleshooting.

Table of Contents

	The "Hello World" Application -- Start here if you want to create stand-alone Java applications.
	The "Hello World" Applet -- Start here if you are interested in writing applets only.

	The "run:" Protocol Handler -- A step-by-step example of writing a protocol handler.
	The "text/plain" Content Handler -- A step-by-step example of writing a content handler.

	Writing Java Programs -- These lessons discuss techniques and concepts that any Java programmer can use.
	Writing Applets -- These lessons discuss techniques and concepts that are specific to writing Java applets.
	Creating a User Interface -- Here's the information you need to create the user interface of your applet or application.
	The Java Development Environment -- Take a look here for information about the Java development environment, tools, how to structure and manage your programming environment, debugging techniques and memory management techniques.
	Integrating Native Methods into Java Programs -- These lessons show you everything you need to know to write native methods in the Java language. A native method is a Java method whose implementation is provided in another programming language such as C. This lesson includes step-by-step instructions and a comprehensive example program.
	Networking These lessons will have the information you'll need if your program deals with the network.
	Extending the HotJava Browser -- These lessons will have information on writing protocol handlers and content handlers -- loadable modules that extend the capabilities of the HotJava browser.
	How the Java Language Differs from C and C++ -- This trail points out the differences between the Java language and C and C++.
	Troubleshooting -- Follow this trail to find all of the pages that discuss troubleshooting.