What Is Java

Java (programming language)
Java is a general-purpose computer-programming language that is concurrent, class-

based, object-oriented,[15] and specifically designed to have as few implementation
dependencies as possible. It is intended to let application developers "write once,
run anywhere" (WORA),[16] meaning that compiled Java code can run on all platforms
that support Java without the need for recompilation.[17] Java applications are
typically compiled to bytecode that can run on any Java virtual machine (JVM)
regardless of computer architecture. As of 2016, Java is one of the most popular
programming languages in use,[18][19][20][21] particularly for client-server web
applications, with a reported 9 million developers.[22] Java was originally
developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems (which has since been acquired by
Oracle Corporation) and released in 1995 as a core component of Sun Microsystems'
Java platform. The language derives much of its syntax from C and C++, but it has
fewer low-level facilities than either of them.
The original and reference implementation Java compilers, virtual machines, and
class libraries were originally released by Sun under proprietary licenses. As of
May 2007, in compliance with the specifications of the Java Community Process, Sun
relicensed most of its Java technologies under the GNU General Public License.
Others have also developed alternative implementations of these Sun technologies,
such as the GNU Compiler for Java (bytecode compiler), GNU Classpath (standard
libraries), and IcedTea-Web (browser plugin for applets).
The latest version is Java 11, released on September 25, 2018, which follows Java
10 after only six months[23] in line with the new release schedule. Java 8 is still
supported but there will be no more security updates for Java 9.[24] Versions
earlier than Java 8 are supported by companies on a commercial basis; e.g. by
Oracle back to Java 6 as of October 2017 (while they still "highly recommend that
you uninstall"[25] pre-Java 8 from at least Windows computers).
James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton initiated the Java language
project in June 1991.[26] Java was originally designed for interactive television,
but it was too advanced for the digital cable television industry at the time.[27]
The language was initially called Oak after an oak tree that stood outside
Gosling's office. Later the project went by the name Green and was finally renamed
Java, from Java coffee.[28] Gosling designed Java with a C/C++-style syntax that
system and application programmers would find familiar.[29]
Sun Microsystems released the first public implementation as Java 1.0 in 1996.[30]
It promised "Write Once, Run Anywhere" (WORA), providing no-cost run-times on
popular platforms. Fairly secure and featuring configurable security, it allowed
network- and file-access restrictions. Major web browsers soon incorporated the
ability to run Java applets within web pages, and Java quickly became popular. The
Java 1.0 compiler was re-written in Java by Arthur van Hoff to comply strictly with
the Java 1.0 language specification.[31] With the advent of Java 2 (released
initially as J2SE 1.2 in December 1998 – 1999), new versions had multiple
configurations built for different types of platforms. J2EE included technologies
and APIs for enterprise applications typically run in server environments, while
J2ME featured APIs optimized for mobile applications. The desktop version was
renamed J2SE. In 2006, for marketing purposes, Sun renamed new J2 versions as Java
EE, Java ME, and Java SE, respectively.
In 1997, Sun Microsystems approached the ISO/IEC JTC 1 standards body and later the
Ecma International to formalize Java, but it soon withdrew from the process.[32]
[33][34] Java remains a de facto standard, controlled through the Java Community
Process.[35] At one time, Sun made most of its Java implementations available
without charge, despite their proprietary software status. Sun generated revenue
from Java through the selling of licenses for specialized products such as the Java
Enterprise System.
On November 13, 2006, Sun released much of its Java virtual machine (JVM) as free
and open-source software, (FOSS), under the terms of the GNU General Public License
(GPL). On May 8, 2007, Sun finished the process, making all of its JVM's core code
available under free software/open-source distribution terms, aside from a small
portion of code to which Sun did not hold the copyright.[36]
Sun's vice-president Rich Green said that Sun's ideal role with regard to Java was
as an "evangelist".[37] Following Oracle Corporation's acquisition of Sun
Microsystems in 2009–10, Oracle has described itself as the "steward of Java
technology with a relentless commitment to fostering a community of participation
and transparency".[38] This did not prevent Oracle from filing a lawsuit against
Google shortly after that for using Java inside the Android SDK (see Google section
below). Java software runs on everything from laptops to data centers, game
consoles to scientific supercomputers.[39] On April 2, 2010, James Gosling resigned
from Oracle.[40]
In January 2016, Oracle announced that Java runtime environments based on JDK 9
will discontinue the browser plugin.[41]

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Java (programming language)

Java is a general-purpose computer-programming language that is concurrent, class-

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