Java programs (or applets, as they’re usually called) are written using the Java programming language developed by Sun Microsystems. You can learn Java as part of the latest mcse training programs and it can be included as a separate module towards gaining full mcse certification. Here are a few advantages that Java programs have over traditional software:
The programs are sent to your browser and are started “behind the scenes.” You don’t have to worry about installation, setup, or loading because your browser takes care of all that dirty work for you.
The programs are designed to work on just about any system. Whether you’re running Windows, a Mac, or a UNIX machine, Java programs will run without complaint.
Java is secure. When people hear about Java, their first concern is that some pimple-faced programmer who has succumbed to the dark side of The Force will send them a Java virus. But Java has built-in safeguards to prevent such attacks.
Since you’re always sent the latest and greatest version of the program when you access a site, you don’t need to worry about upgrades and new releases.
So what do you need to start sipping some of this Java stuff? All you really need is a Web browser that knows what the heck to do with any Java applet that comes its way. The latest versions of most browsers are now Java-jolted. Netscape has been Java-aware since version 2.0, and Internet Explorer has done Java since version 3.0. In other words, you shouldn’t have any problems with Java applets, and most of the folks viewing your pages will be able to work with whatever applets you purloin for your own use.
Java applets come in all shapes and sizes, from tiny animations (known as dancing baloney) to full-blown software packages: word processors, spreadsheets, real-time stock quotes and portfolio management, high-end games, and much more. However, even the simplest Java doohickeys are exciting in their own way. This Java jazz is such a radical departure from typical Web content that interacting with even the humblest applet is a revelation. So, in that spirit, let’s visit a few sites that boast some Java functionality.
The best place to start is a Web site called Gamelan, which serves as the Web’s unofficial “directory and registry of Java resources.” Gamelan boasts hundreds of Java programs, arranged in many different categories, including Animation, Finance, Games, and Special Effects.