Gain insights into Java, a versatile and portable programming language. Delve into similarities with C++ and Python and learn essential Java-specific features with practical coding examples.

Looking to jump into a new programming language? Java is an easy-to-use, highly portable and ubiquitous language that is used for a variety of development purposes such as Android applications,  desktop applications, and website backend systems. Designed for programmers who are already familiar with coding in languages such as C++, Python, or other similar languages, this course articulates any Java-specific details that programmers need to know to get acquainted with the language and also highlights similarities and differences between Java and other languages through multiple coding examples.

The Complete Java Crash Course

To write Java code on your own computer, rather than in the web browswer, you'll need a Java Development Kit (JDK) to compile and run Java code, and some way of editing Java files. 




# Java

You'll need to download and install the JDK first; the current version is Java 9. You can download it from the [download link](http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html) on Oracle's Java page. 

# Eclipse IDE

Although a standard text editor like Atom, Sublime, Notepad++, or Emacs are fine ways to edit code, an Integrated Development Environment, or IDE for short, provides some features that you might find useful. There are several good IDEs available, including Eclipse, Netbeans, and Intellij IDEa. We'll use [Eclipse](http://www.eclipse.org).

1) Download the installer from the [Eclipse download page](http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/). 
2) Run the intaller, and select "Eclipse IDE for Java Developers" from the menu.
3) Launch Eclipse, and select a workspace, which will be the folder where your projects with Java code will be kept.
4) Create a new Java project, using from "File->New...-> Java project". Call the project HelloWorld, and leave the other options set to default values:







Install and use the tools you'll need to start writing complete Java programs on your own machine.

Hello, Java!

Variables and expressions

Flow of control: loops and conditionals

Classes, objects, and methods

Challenge project: tetrominos

Getting started with the JDK and an IDE

Java