Java development involves creating functional applications or applets using the Java programming language and tools. The process includes planning, design, implementation, testing, and deployment, with the use of Java Development Kit and an integrated development environment. Deploying a Java program may require overcoming issues such as installing the Java runtime environment and distributing JRE binaries. Online repositories can be used for installation but may take longer depending on the number of files.
Java® development is the process of creating a functional application or applet using the Java® programming language and associated tools. The steps involved in Java® development are very similar to standard software development practices. The Java® development cycle has three broad phases. The first is planning and design, the second is implementation, and the final stage is deployment.
The planning and design phase of a Java® program is both similar to standard software development techniques and is slightly different. The language was designed to be not only platform independent but also device independent. When designing an application or applet, it is important for a developer to decide whether the target machine is of a single type or whether the program will take additional steps to ensure compliance with different platforms.
The implementation phase of Java® development involves using a suite of tools known as the Java® Development Kit (JDK) together with an integrated development environment (IDE) to actually write the programs. The JDK includes a set of tools that allow you to compile programs into bytecode that the interpreter can read or that can simulate different user platforms. There are a variety of JDKs available from different developers, each containing a different set of development tools.
The implementation also includes testing and debugging the program. There are many tools in the JDK that help profile a program, compare certain classes, and track memory usage. The interpreted nature of the Java® language allows the virtual machine running the compiled bytecode to keep track of many aspects of the program that would be much more complex if run natively.
Many Java® developers also rely on the functionality of the IDE they use to develop the actual code. These IDEs allow for visual editing, menu-based testing, and program debugging. There are IDEs that include tools that can create parts of Java® programs by allowing a programmer to drag and drop pre-programmed visual elements into a user interface, eliminating the need to repeatedly code them by hand.
Deploying a Java® program can be very different from programs developed in other languages. There are several issues that may need to be overcome before the deployment is successful. Java® programs require the Java® runtime environment to be installed on the target system as a browser plug-in or as a standalone application. Installing a Java® application must check if the JRE is actually installed and may need to be distributed with the target system’s native JRE binaries.
Some web-based applications allow you to install a Java® program directly from an online repository. This has the advantage that the downloads can be adapted to the user’s system configuration. It has the disadvantage that it can potentially take a long time, depending on the number of classes, libraries and other files that need to be installed.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
