Why is Java called a programming language?

I'm not trying to start any arguments here, and I know Java is a programming language. I just don't really understand the reasoning of why it's called a programming language. This isn't meant to spark up flame, it's merely a question.

http://i.imgur.com/3IoMR.png

If Java is derived from C++, and if it's merely a higher-level version of C++ then wouldn't it be considered a scripting language since it's only interpreting C++?

I'm aware there are flaws in my logic, I just need them cleared up. I'm confused.

Why told you, or where you read that Java was interpreting C++ = script language?

I found this quote: "A Java application is a stand-alone program that can be executed using a Java interpreter."

When we compile a java code is translated in a byte code.

For example:

Code:

---

for (int i = 2; i < 1000; i++) {
      for (int j = 2; j < i; j++) {
          if (i % j == 0)
              continue outer;
      }
      System.out.println (i);
  }

---

After translation with java compiler on byte code it should look something like that:

0: iconst_2
1: istore_1
2: iload_1
3: sipush 1000
6: if_icmpge 44
9: iconst_2
10: istore_2
11: iload_2
12: iload_1
13: if_icmpge 31
16: iload_1
17: iload_2
18: irem
19: ifne 25
22: goto 38
25: iinc 2, 1
28: goto 11
31: getstatic #84; //Field java/lang/System.out:Ljava/io/PrintStream;
34: iload_1
35: invokevirtual #85; //Method java/io/PrintStream.println:(I)V
38: iinc 1, 1
41: goto 2
44: return

source: Java bytecode - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Quote:

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Originally Posted by cselic

Why told you, or where you read that Java was interpreting C++ = script language?

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I was watching a Java to C++ tutorial because I was interested in C++, he said "Java is derived from C++" and on some blog I read "Java interprets C++". I guess I should have done more research before asking the question, thank you for clearing this up.

Java's syntax is based on C++, but that's about it.
The JVM could be written in any language...

First they wanted to call it 'Java the aardvark' but the Society Against Making Fun Of Aardvarks (SAMFOA) protested against it; so they called it a programming language ...

kind regards,

Jos

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Vinx

I was watching a Java to C++ tutorial because I was interested in C++, he said "Java is derived from C++" and on some blog I read "Java interprets C++". I guess I should have done more research before asking the question, thank you for clearing this up.

---

"Java is derived from C++" means that few geeks was having brainstorming sessions where they were trying to make new programming language that would be similar to C++ but better and easier, for example without allocation/deallocation memory, without pointers, without overloaded operators,...

""Java interprets C++"." Main goal of java programming language is that it should be platform independent. Java solves this problem using the concept of Java Virtual Machine (JVM).
JVM provides a virtual CPU and a virtual instruction set (called byte code).
The Java compiler transforms a Java source program into byte code.
A Java interpreter (called Java Runtime) converts the byte code instructions to native processor instructions and executes them.

Java is a programming language that is both compiled and interpreted.

A Java program is compiled into bytecodes. These bytecodes are platform-independent. Any Java Virtual Machine (JVM) can interpret these bytecodes, as long as it is a compatible JVM version.

Some slight corrections: @cselic: Java does have pointers; each non primitive type variable is a pointer; Java doesn't have pointer arithmetic; @FlipPoker: most (if not all) off the byte code is translated to raw machine code during runtime by the JIT compiler (and the HotSpot engine); my guess is that future Java implementations abandon the HotSpot mechanism completely and leave it all up to the JIT compiler.

kind regards,

Jos