macOS I Would Like to Start Learning Java on the Mac

[cbrain]

Hi,

I would like to start learning Java and writing programs with it on the mac.

Can anyone tell me a good site and a compiler to get me started please?

Thanks.

 

[wellmac]

I'm thinking about the same thing. Looks like netbeans might be the ticket.

The only thing that I'm not sure about is that the latest version of the Java JDK (version 6) is available on Mac OS X?

 

[twoodcc]

can't you use xcode to compile?

 

[wellmac]

Looks like you could use it as the IDE don't know about compiler though. Personally I'd prefer a cross-platform IDE anyway.

 

[Cromulent]

Eclipse is probably your best bet in that case.

 

[psingh01]

If you are just starting out go ahead and use Xcode. Everything you need is in the developer tools on your OSX CD.

Later on I would recommend using Eclipse. I used to use NetBeans, thought it was great, but have since been converted to Eclipse.

 

[hankolerd]

you can compile through Xcode, eclipse, or just through the terminal
javac filename.java
to compile it
java filename
to run it
If you have multiple files using each other than by compiling your main starting file all other files should compile at the same time.

 

[twoodcc]

If you are just starting out go ahead and use Xcode. Everything you need is in the developer tools on your OSX CD.

Later on I would recommend using Eclipse. I used to use NetBeans, thought it was great, but have since been converted to Eclipse.

is Eclipse free? i think NetBeans is free.

 

[wellmac]

Yeah I'm pretty sure Eclipse is free (money) too. It's also open source.

Does anyone know if/when the latest Java is going to be available for the Mac?

 

[psingh01]

Yes Eclipse is free. http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/

Apple always seems to be behind with the latest and greatest Java. You can sign up with http://developer.apple.com/ (also free) and if there is a newer version it will show up there first. For the longest time that was the only way to get Java 1.5.

 

[wellmac]

Apple always seems to be behind with the latest and greatest Java. You can sign up with http://developer.apple.com/ (also free) and if there is a newer version it will show up there first. For the longest time that was the only way to get Java 1.5.

Thanks for the info

 

[torpy]

Another vote for Eclipse, it's what I started coding Java on and it's really easy to get into and start using. Though, if you plan on not hardcoding your interfaces, go with netbeans.