Lesson Zero: Setting up your programming environment.
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Before we actually start programming, let me explain how to set up
your own programming environment.
Once you have written your programming code, you cannot execute it on
your computer directly. You will need to compile your code first. This
is the same for almost all programming languages. The Java compiler
compiles your code into so-called byte-code. This byte-code can be
executed by the ´Java Runtime Environment´ (JRE). (The byte code can be
executed in your own type of operating system as well as on other
platforms like Windows, UNIX/LINUX or MacIntosh.)
The programming process in steps:
1. Open a text editor and a DOS/UNIX window.
2. Change the path in your DOS/UNIX window to the directory in which
your programme is located.
3. Program or alter your code in the text editor and save it as
Xxxxx.java .
4. Compile your code by typing ´javac Xxxxx.java´ in your DOS/UNIX
window.
(This will translate the file Xxxx.java into Xxxx.class that contains
the byte code.)
5. Run your compiled code by typing ´java Xxxxx´.
6. Return to step 3 to correct mistakes.
Remarks:
- I assumed you are programming a java application. If you are
programming an applet, step 5 becomes: Run your code by typing
´appletviewer Xxxxx.html´. But I will get back to this subject in the
lesson on applets.
- If the javac, java or appletviewer programme cannot be found, make
sure that the path of your system includes the java\bin directory where
these programmes were installed.
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