newbie newbie newbie

[krislogy]

i know nothing abt running programs of java

i'v learnt a bit of it in theory but have never ever compiled a single program/class.

also, rite now i dont even have any IDE to work in. (but hopefully i'l get it from a friend of mine)

the issue is: i want to start practicing java from the scratch. i gz that means using the java compiler / machine n console etc..
plz help me wid al the procedures to start with it, as you can see that i dont even know the terminologies too...
(i work on win xp)
so, what al installation files i'l need to install java in my pc?
what wil be the procedure to compile any java code/class (i assume the codes can be edited in notepad too)

*********

final requests:
once i'm well familiar with the above procedure, i plan to shift to a more comfortable platform. plz suggest me which would be better: netbeans or eclipse?
also,, i feel that if i start working on some project, that would be better rather than practicing simple/trivial programs.
finally finally,, can i get some tutorial which will guide me properly during the learning and project development phase?

i would be v v v v v v v happy n grateful to u al if you could help me out even a little bit.. thx agen in advance :o

[hardwired]

Trail: Getting Started

[Norm]

I'd suggest NOT starting with an IDE. Use an editor to create the first few programs and a commandline to execture them.
IDEs hide a lot of things that you need to know to solve problems.
classpath is one of them.
Download the JDK from the sun site, install it,add its bin folder to the PAtH, create a few directories to work in and start writing code.

[Eranga]

But I think Norm a simple IDE is better, that's the Notepad++ with command prompt. Because it's only highlight keywords, it's much better to keep in mind at the beginning.

[DevzAbhi]

I would suggest the same as Eranga .. use notepad++ or better use textpad (textpad.com) . they both have syntax highlighting feature but does no code assist .. this is a better way of learning java .. my opinion ..

[Norm]

Yes, I agree. I didn't know of notepad++
Keep it simple to start with.

[krislogy]

hey.. thx, u al.. :)

uh.. ohk i'v downloaded the jdk s/w, installed it too. 'v written a simple hello world program too. how do i now compile it and run the program finally.
dunno the commands... :(

plus abt the "add its bin folder to the PAtH" that norm has written,, can u plz tell me the exact procedures for that too?

coz, i'v tried this: right-click My Computer>Properties>Advanced>Environment Variables and added the variable name/path.. but it doesnt work :(

thx :)

[Norm]

Can you open a command prompt window, enter: path
and copy the value for PATH= here?

Here's the value from my system:

C:\Documents and Settings\Owner>path
PATH=C:\WINDOWS\system32;C:\WINDOWS;C:\WINDOWS\Sys tem32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_04\bin;C:\Perl\bin;C:\BatchFil es;C:\Program Files\Support Tools\;C:\
Program Files\QuickTime\QTSystem\

It should be all on one line.

[zionvier]

For compiling you'll want to use the command: javac
For running the compiled file (.class) you'll use: java

/zv/development/test->javac helloworld.java

/zv/development/test->java helloworld
Hello World

Hope that helps a little. You do have to make sure your system can find javac, so make sure the bin directory from your jdk is in your PATH environment variable, otherwise you'll have to specify the full location everytime.

[krislogy]

thank u al :)

i think that should be enuf for now. see ya guys later :)