This chapter is a gentle introduction to the world of Java. In the next few pages, you find out what Java is, where it came from, and where it's going. You also discover some of the unique strengths of Java, as well as some of its weaknesses. And I also compare Java to the other popular programming languages, including C, C++, C#, and Visual Basic.

By the way, I assume in this chapter that you have at least enough background to know what computer programming is all about. That doesn't mean that I assume you're an expert or professional programmer. It just means that I don't take the time to explain such basics as what a computer program is, what a programming language is, and so on. If you have absolutely no programming experience, I suggest you pick up a copy of Java 2 For Dummies.

Throughout this chapter, you find little snippets of Java program code, plus a few snippets of code written in other languages like C, C++ ... read full excerpt from: Java All-In-One Desk Reference For Dummies ebook