Java introduction for beginners

In this tutorial we will discuss
1. Java History : Birth and Evolution
2. Java Popularity : Tiobe Score
3. Java Installation

What is programming language

• A programming language defines the way to communicate with computer. It is used to make a computer perform a series of tasks based on the instructions you give it. 
• Some Programming languages are low level while others are high level.
• There are various genre of programming languages. Some are procedural, others are object oriented or functional.

What is Java

• Java can be considered as both - programming language & platform.
• Java programming language is a high-level object-oriented language & has a particular syntax and style. For example : Java 6, Java 7, Java 8, Java 9 etc. are various versions of Java language 
• Java platform is a particular environment in which Java programming language applications run. For example : Java SE, Java ME, Java EE, Java FX are all Java platforms

When was Java born

• James Gosling initiated the Java language in 1991. He was modifying C++ initially to make it suitable for set top box, but then ended up creating Java and Java Compiler
• Java was simpler and platform independent initiative alternative of C++
• The language was initially called Oak, but later Sun’s marketing department named Java
• Sun Microsystems released its first public implementation of Java 1.0 in 1995
• Latest version is Java 8 update 121 as of today

Who takes care of Java evolution

• Oracle Corporation is current owner of official implementation of Java language
• Oracle is working on Java 9 as of now, tentatively to be released in July 2017
• Open JDK is another notable Java implementation licensed under GNU GPL
• Java language is key pillar of Android, an open source mobile operating system

For Java popularity and Tiobe Score please check the following URL
https://www.tiobe.com/tiobe-index

Java Installation

• Search 'Oracle Java Downloads' on Google
• First link takes you to Oracle Java SE Downloads
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html
• Download JDK + JRE based on your OS

Set Path Variable on Windows

• Set PATH to include JDK and JRE binary location
• Control Panel > System > Advanced Settings > Environment Variables > Path
• Add C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_121\bin to the list
• Add C:\Program Files\Java\jre1.8.0_121\bin to the list

Set JAVA_HOME on Windows

• Control Panel > System > Advanced Settings > Environment Variables 
• Add user specific variable JAVA_HOME = C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0_121

On Mac

• Set PATH to include JDK and JRE binary location
• Set JAVA_HOME

$ vim .bash_profile
    export JAVA_HOME=$(/usr/libexec/java_home)
$ source .bash_profile