Free forever · Browser-based · No setup required Back to course
Students will gain a comprehensive understanding of Java's place in the programming world. They will learn about Java's history, its evolution over time, and why it remains one of the most widely used programming languages today.
By the end of this unit, students will be able to set up their Java development environment, write their first Java program, and understand the basic structure of Java applications. This foundation sets the stage for the entire Java learning journey.
Each lesson in this unit follows the same structure:
- Read the concept
- Study the example
- Write or modify Java code
- Compile the program
- Run the code
- Review the output
- Complete a hands-on lab
- Answer review questions
History and evolution of Java
Java was created at Sun Microsystems in the early 1990s and released publicly in 1995. It was designed to be platform-independent, meaning Java programs can run on any device that has the Java Virtual Machine installed. Today Java is maintained by Oracle and remains one of the most widely used programming languages in the world.
Features and advantages of Java
Java is object-oriented, strongly typed, and designed for portability. Key features include automatic memory management through garbage collection, a large standard library, strong community support, and consistent performance across platforms. These qualities make Java a reliable choice for enterprise software, backend systems, Android development, and educational programming courses.
Setting up the Java development environment
Students will learn about the Java Development Kit (JDK), which includes the tools needed to write, compile, and run Java programs. This unit also introduces integrated development environments (IDEs) such as IntelliJ IDEA and VS Code. In this course, all coding takes place directly in the browser, so no local installation is required to get started.
Writing and running your first Java program
Students will write a complete Java program, understand its structure, compile it, run it, and review the output. This first program introduces the main method, which is the entry point of every Java application.
This unit is included in all academic level tracks.
| Academic Level | Track |
|---|---|
| High School | Units 1–7 |
| College / University — Year 1 | Units 1–8 |
| College / University — Year 2 | Units 1–11 |
| College / University — Year 3 | Units 1–13 |
Start this unit Terms of Use · Privacy Policy
© Java Pro Academy. All rights reserved.