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Installing Java on your Computer

Java is a programming language that runs on virtually every computer. You write Java programs in an editor, save them to disk as .java files, and then byte-compile them with the javac compiler (e.g., in Windows this is javac.exe) to produce .class files. The .class files are loaded and run in a Java Virtual Machine, called the JVM (windows=java.exe). Since the JVM runs everywhere, Java can run everywhere. You can even write and compile Java programs on Windows and run them on the Mac (and unix), and vice versa.

The Java Development Kit (JDK) allows you to develop Java programs. The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) allows you to run Java programs. The JDK includes the JRE. If you only need to run java programs, you can just install the JRE. Either is fine.

Installation steps

If you are working without an IDE, on Windows use Windows-Key / cmd to bring up a terminal window. You can run java programs by typing "java MyProgram" at command prompt. If you are using java to run ABCL LISP you would type "java -jar abcl.jar" (assuming the abcl.jar file is in the same directory).

If you are working on the Mac, everything is the same. Do one of the following: Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock, type Terminal in the search field, then click Terminal. In the Finder , open the /Applications/Utilities folder, then double-click Terminal. In Spotlight, type Terminal.

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