Java Installation and Object-Oriented Design Principles for Beginners
Salutations fellow Techies,
For those of you who are just beginning to explore the world
of Java this is the post for you. This article will provide a brief historical
overview of Java, its applications, features of object-oriented design
principles, and installation guidance.
History and Applications
Originally developed by Sun Microsystems and later acquired by
Oracle Corporation, Java has since become one of the most popular programming
languages in the world. Java was originally released in 1995 and has since been
used for a wide variety of applications including web, mobile applications, enterprise
software, and scientific computing development.
Java is an object-oriented programming language, meaning
that it is based on the concept of objects and classes. The fundamental features
which allow developers using Java to create maintainable, scalable, and reusable
code are Encapsulation, Inheritance, Polymorphism, and Abstraction. Below, I will
brief upon the purpose of each of these features.
Encapsulation
Encapsulation establishes a well-defined interface which essentially
hides and restricts direct access of internal program data by outside users. This
is done within a program by declaring users who may access internal data as
private. This in turn prevents the unintended modification of an object’s state
and behavior which ensures data integrity, modularity, maintainability, and reusability.
Inheritance
Inheritance effectively establishes a hierarchal relationship
whereby a class, otherwise known as a subclass, may “inherit” properties and
behaviors from another class known as a superclass. This relationship of inheriting
attributes between classes enables developers to create more manageable and
organized codebases via code reusability, thus, resulting in cleaner, more
maintainable code.
Polymorphism
Polymorphism refers to the ability of an object to take on
multiple forms. Through the feature of inheritance, polymorphism allows objects
of different classes to be treated as objects of a common superclass, thereby leading
to increased program flexibility and extensibility.
There are two types of polymorphism. Overriding and Overloading. Overriding, also known as run-time polymorphism, is where a subclass provides a specific implementation of a previously defined method in a superclass. Overloading, also known as compile-time polymorphism, allows a class to have multiple methods of the same name but use different parameters within the same class.
Abstraction
Often achieved through encapsulation, Abstraction focuses primarily
on establishing a well-defined interface comprised of essential attributes and
behaviors of an object. This is done by simultaneously concealing unnecessary details
of the internal state of an object. This allows developers to better manage, reuse,
troubleshoot, and maintain system software.
Java Installation and Helpful Links
If you are looking to install the Java Software, there is no
better place to start than to visit Java Downloads |
Oracle . Within this link, you are getting legitimate and trusted system software
directly from the source. The Oracle website offers several downloadable
versions of Java that are compatible with Windows, MacOs, and Linux. This
website also provides valuable tools, resources, and tutorials to better inform
the user on system products and applications.
In addition to downloading the Java system software, it is
also required that the user download an Integrated Development Environment or
IDE for short. In essence, an IDE is a software application that helps programmers
develop software code efficiently. It effectively provides the tools necessary
for developers to write, test, and debug software, all within a single use
interface.
According to sources, the top 5 Integrated Development
Environments for Java are:
1. Microsoft Visual Studio
2.
IntelliJ IDEA
3.
Oracle JDeveloper
4.
Eclipse
5.
Apache NetBeans
Among these IDE’s, the best is a matter of opinion and personal
preference. So don’t be shy and download a few. See what works best for you. It’s
likely that you will favor one over the other.
Once you have downloaded the Java software and your preferred
IDE, you may encounter common issues which may not allow you to initialize your
IDE. Below I have provided a few links that helped me troubleshoot the issues I
had when I first downloaded the software myself. Also note, if all else fails, try
to uninstall and reinstall your download versions of Java and your IDE.
Cannot Find Java Version
How to
fix cannot find Java 1.8 in Netbeans 11 (youtube.com)
How to Change Java version if Multiple Versions are Installed
How
to Change the Java JDK Version of Netbeans IDE (youtube.com)
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