Java : Background, Applications, Firewall and Bytecode | Introduction to Java

Hello Geeks..!
Here we are with another episode of the tech section of this blog. You guys remember the C and C++ post. You should consider this post as the Part II or the continuing post of C and C++. As the Java programming language comes from the background of C and C++. Today we will be introducing you to JAVA programming language. Java is a cross platform language and is quiet famous for this feature. Whether you know how to code in Java or not, I can bet all of you are well aware of the position of Java in the industry. Applications for the world famous operating system Android are also developed in Java. We will be telling you about the birth and importance of the Java programming language. Lets not waste time and take you to what you are waiting for.

The birth of JAVA

Java was developed by James Gosling, Chris Warth, Mike Sheridan, Patrick Naughton and Ed Frank at Sun Microsystems which is now a part of Oracle corporation. Java has adopted its syntax from C and C++. It was developed in 1991. Initially it was named as Oak later on they changed it to JAVA. Many people contributed in the development and evolution of JAVA language. As C and C++ was created due to the increase in complexity. The case in Java is different. 

Need of a platform independent language

Java was created because there was a need of a platform independent language. As C and C++ were designed specifically for a target. To compile a C++ program a C++ compiler was needed. Compilers are expensive and it takes a lot of time to create them. A solution was needed that would be less expensive and less time consuming. So, Java was created that is architecture neutral. Softwares created in JAVA can be embedded in various devices. To find such a language James Gosling and co workers started working to produce a code that would run on different CPU's. And this led to the birth of JAVA.

Java and Web

There was one more thing that would play an important role for JAVA. The World Wide Web. It was also emerging at that time. And of course, the web also needed portable programs.
The Internet consists of different computers, operating systems and CPU's. So there was need of a platform independent language. The need of a an efficient and platform independent is quite old. Since the initial programmers too felt the need of a platform independent language. But as you know people divided themselves into three categories. The windows, Mac and Unix users. Every body preferred to do the work within their boundaries. But with the advent of Web, people again had to face the same problem of platform independency. As the web had all types of machines connected to it. So everyone wanted to run the same program.
The problems that the programmers had to face while creating code for embedded devices were also present when creating code for the web. Java was designed to solve the same problem on a small scale for embedded devices could also be implemented on a large scale to solve the problem for web. Now the focus of Java was on the web programming more than the consumer electronics which led to the success of JAVA programming language.

JAVA is a highly professional language. Only trained programmers can work on JAVA its not for somebody who is on the training. That is because the Java programming language reflects it, if you are a good programmer it will be reflected through your code. How it is reflected? The use of constructors, methods and functions etc would be done in a more professional way as compared to some beginner who is new to Java.And similarly if you are not an experienced programmer it will also be reflected through your code.
Java is quite similar to the C and C++ because it has derived its character from its descendants, the C and C++. Most of the features of Java are the same as that of C and C++ such as the object oriented nature, programmers thought to give the same features to Java as those of C and C++ so that it may attract the C and C++ programmers.
Java was designed and developed by real programmers.
Although Java has the same features as that of C++ but it does not mean that Java is an advanced version of C++ or that Java is somewhat compatible with C++. If you are a programmer of C++ you might feel at home while working in Java. But there is a difference between the two programming languages. Considering that Java has replaced C++ is also not right. Java serves its own purposes while C++ serves it own. C language is for systems programming.

JAVA Applications

The program that can be run on a computer system under a specific operating system is called an application. It is the same as the application created by C and C++ programming language.

Applets (JAVA feature)

An applet which is the special feature of  JAVA. What is an applet? An applet is an application that can be sent over the internet and can be executed by a browser that has java compatibility. 

An applet is a dynamic and intelligent application that is sent over the internet and can be executed. It is not just an image or video that will play in the same way every time you play it. Instead it can change dynamically according to the user actions or inputs. 

Firewall in JAVA

Every time you download anything from the internet you are facing a threat of exposing your computer to viruses or malicious programs. There are other programs too that are capable of extracting personal information such as passwords and credit card numbers from your personal computers. Java presents a solution to this problem. Java gives you a firewall that between a networked application and your computer. Using a java compatible browser will enable you to download an applet without fearing viruses and malicious content. 

The Bytecode

Bytecode : Bytecode is a highly optimized set of instructions designed to be executed by Java Virtual Machine (JVM). 

The output of a java program is not an executable code instead it is a bytecode. A bytecode does not have to be executed, it has to be interpreted.Well this might sound something new to you. But this is how it is, you may consider it a unique feature of JAVA. Translating a java program into bytecode gives us the solution to all the major problems such as security and portability, faced during developing and transferring applications and applets. 

Translating the executable code into bytecode helps the java program to run on a large number of environments or computers. This feature solves the problem of portability as because of this feature java applications can run on different operating systems. 

Another problem faced regarding applets that we mentioned earlier is the security. You are at risk while downloading any application from the internet that your computer might get exposed to viruses etc. Well Java presents a solution for this problem too. As the java program has to be interpreted into bytecode, which is done by using the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). The program is interpreted on the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) that does not allow the program to create side effects outside of the system. Due to this feature your security is no longer at risk. And you can download any application fearlessly.