I must admit. If I was ever going to get into programing I think that my sails would be set toward Flash instead of C or Java. But for those of you thinking that Java is a better fit for you, then you might want to stop by here first to get a little taste of what to expect.

The lessons in this trail give a quick introduction to Java programming. They tell you what Java is and provide you with an opportunity to compile and run some simple Java programs. Finally, they give you the background knowledge you need to understand how the programs work.

Having Trouble Getting Started? Try the detailed instructions in Your First Cup of Java: for Microsoft Windows, for UNIX, or for Mac OS.

The Java Phenomenon lesson talks a bit about the Java language and platform. Its aim is to give you an idea of what Java can do for you. It also covers some basic Java concepts that will help you understand the process of writing a Java program. If you can’t wait to write your first program, skip ahead to one of the following two lessons.

The most common Java programs are applications and applets. Applications are standalone programs, such as the HotJava browser. Applets are similar to applications, but they don’t run standalone. Instead, applets adhere to a set of conventions that lets them run within a Java-compatible browser. If you’re using a browser that can view applets, you should see an animation just below this paragraph — that’s an applet embedded in this HTML page. [Read the rest]