Program Development Tools

Programming involves solving a problem and then translating the solution into code. However, it doesn't end there. The code you write must be further translated into code that the computing system can understand which will ultimately end up as ones and zeros (currently; quantum computing will likely change this). However in between your code and the computer's code, there are steps that must be taken. Many languages such as C or C++ must have each code, or source file individually compiled or converted into ones and zeros in a temporary file called an object file, and from there, all the object files are linked into an executable file that can be run as a stand alone program.

Other programming languages such as BASIC may be compiled or may be interpreted which simply means the interpreting system essentially reads and implements the code lines one at a time.

Java is a kind of in-between programming language that is initially compiled to a temporary product called Byte Code which by itself cannot be run. However, it can be communicated to other machines commonly via the Internet to be run there. However, once it arrives at the destination computer, one more step is implemented by the Java Runtime Environment (JRE) which is an onboard interpreter for the Java Byte Code. This interpreter checks to make sure the Byte Code has not been corrupted and that it has no malicious code in it that could harm the host computer, and then it runs the code as a program.

The problem is, folks are not that interested in jumping through a bunch of hoops just to program. In the simplest world, the programming code would be written in an editor, such as Notepad, TextPad, Atom, etc., then some system would conduct the compiling and linking, and then the program must be run to see if it works. This calls for help from a product called an Integrated Development Environment or IDE. An IDE packages the editor, the compiling or interpreting operations, and the running or testing process into one package. And most IDEs offer a debugging environment where a programmer can test the code line by line and/or look into the variables and operations of the program as it is running.

There are several IDEs available but for consistency of experience and learning, the IDE that will be used in this course is called Eclipse. It is a free product and reasonably easy to use. Instructions on installing and using it will be found in the next couple of pages of this reference.

The Java programming environment must be downloaded and installed first and then the Eclipse product can be installed after that. Continue to the next page for these instructions.