Java

Introduced in 1995, Java is a programming language developed by Sun Microsystems that looks a bit like a simplified version of the C++ language. Differences with C++ include the fact that Java passes all arrays and objects by reference but doesn t have a pointer type, which eliminates the programming mistake of referencing a random area of memory. Java also has automatic garbage collection (just like BASIC) and C++ style exceptions are automatically generated when dereferencing a NULL pointer, accessing outside an array s bound, or running out of memory. Java s support of network protocol handlers such as HTTP, FTP, NNTP, MIME, and Sockets tip you off that it s some kind of network programming language.

Indeed, Java is designed to be the ultimate cross platform, object-oriented programming language for creating interactive programs called applets that can run across networks such as the public Internet or corporate intranet. For example, Java-enabled thin-client network computing environments are perfect for distributing Java applets anywhere in a corporate environment. Also, since the client is executing the software, the server is relieved from the great processing burden of having to handle a large number of interactive web pages.

Since Java applets will run on any operating system and Java has no extensions unique to any operating system (except for a Windows-optimized flavor called Visual J++ that caused Sun to bring a lawsuit against Microsoft), its write once, run anywhere philosophy revives the old idea of a universal computer language. If you want to develop applications...