INTRODUCTION

When the chronicle of computer languages is written, the following

will be said: B led to C, C evolved into C++, and C++ set the stage for
Java. To understand Java is to understand the reasons that drove its
creation, the forces that shaped it, and the legacy that it inherits.
Like the successful computer languages that came before, Java is a
blend of the best elements of its rich heritage combined with the
innovative concepts required by its unique environment.
Java is a high-level, third generation programming language, like C,
FORTRAN, Smalltalk, Perl, and many others. You can use Java to
write computer applications that play games, store data or do any of
the thousands of other things computer software can do.
Java is related to C++, which is a direct descendent of C. Much of the
character of Java is inherited from these two languages. From C, Java
derives its syntax. Many of Java’s object-oriented features were
influenced by C++.
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 Two major concern: Security and portability
Security
Every time when we download a “normal” program, we are risking a
viral infection. Prior to Java, most users did not download executable
programs frequently, and those who did scanned them for viruses prior
to execution. In addition to viruses, another type of malicious program
that gather private information, such as credit card numbers, bank
account balances, and passwords, by searching the contents of your
computer’s local file system. Java answers both of these concerns by
providing a “firewall” between a networked application and your
computer.
Portability
Many types of computers and operating systems are in use throughout
the world—and many are connected to the Internet. For programs to
be dynamically downloaded to all the various types of platforms
connected to the Internet, some means of generating portable
executable code is needed. Chandra prakash
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 Java’s Magic: The Bytecode
The key that allows Java to solve both the security and the portability
problems just described is that the output of a Java compiler is not executable
code. Rather, it is bytecode. Bytecode is a highly optimized set of instructions
designed to be executed by the Java run-time system, which is called the Java
Virtual Machine (JVM). That is, in its standard form, the JVM is an interpreter
for bytecode.
Translating a Java program into bytecode helps makes it much easier to run a
program in a wide variety of environments. The reason is straightforward: only
the JVM needs to be implemented for each platform. Once the run-time
package exists for a given system, any Java program can run on it. Remember,
although the details of the JVM will differ from platform to platform, all
interpret the same Java bytecode.
If a Java program were compiled to native code, then different versions of the
same program would have to exist for each type of CPU connected to the
Internet. This is, of course, not a feasible solution. Thus, the interpretation of
bytecode is the easiest way to create truly portable programs.

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 JAVA FEATURES
1. Compiled and Interpreted
2. Platform Independent and portable
3. Object- oriented
4. Robust and secure
5. Distributed
6. Familiar, simple and small
7. Multithreaded and Interactive
8. High performance
9. Dynamic and Extensible
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1. Compiled and Interpreted
Basically a computer language is either compiled or interpreted. Java comes
together both these approach thus making Java a two-stage system.
Java compiler translates Java code to Bytecode instructions and Java
Interpreter generate machine code that can be directly executed by machine
that is running the Java program.

2. Platform Independent and portable

Java supports the feature portability. Java programs can be easily moved from
one computer system to another and anywhere. Changes and upgrades in
operating systems, processors and system resources will not force any
alteration in Java programs. This is reason why Java has become a trendy
language for programming on Internet which interconnects different kind of
systems worldwide. Java certifies portability in two ways.
First way is, Java compiler generates the bytecode and that can be
executed on any machine. Second way is, size of primitive data types are
machine independent.
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3. Object- oriented
Java is truly object-oriented language. In Java, almost everything is an
Object. All program code and data exist in objects and classes. Java comes
with an extensive set of classes; organize in packages that can be used in
program by Inheritance.
4. Robust and secure
Java is a most strong language which provides many securities to make
certain reliable code. It is design as garbage – collected language, which
helps the programmers virtually from all memory management problems.
Java also includes the concept of exception handling, which detain serious
errors and reduces all kind of threat of crashing the system.
5. Distributed
Java is called as Distributed language for construct applications on
networks which can contribute both data and programs. Java applications
can open and access remote objects on Internet easily. That means
multiple programmers at multiple remote locations to work together on
single task.
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6. Simple and small
Java is very small and simple language. Java does not use pointer and header
files, goto statements, etc. It eliminates operator overloading and multiple
inheritance.
7. Multithreaded and Interactive
Multithreaded means managing multiple tasks
simultaneously. Java maintains multithreaded programs. That means we need
not wait for the application to complete one task before starting next task.
8. High performance
Java performance is very extraordinary for an interpreted
language, majorly due to the use of intermediate bytecode. The incorporation
of multithreading improves the execution speed
of program.
9. Dynamic and Extensible
Java is also dynamic language. Java is capable of dynamically linking in new
class, libraries, methods and objects.

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