Java® and Flex® Integration Bible

Chapter 1. Setting Up the Java Development Environment

IN THIS CHAPTER

• The Java programming language

• The Java SE Development Kit

• The JBoss application server

• Apache Ant

• The Eclipse integrated development environment

Before you start working with Java, you need to set up a Java development environment. This includes installing the Java Standard Edition (SE) Development Kit and the JBoss application server and then configuring the server to use the Java Development Kit (JDK) you just installed. After that, you must install Apache Ant and the Eclipse integrated development environment (IDE), which you also configure to use the same JDK and to control your JBoss server.

Because Java is multiplatform, and JBoss, Ant, and Eclipse are themselves written in Java, it's possible to use this Java development environment setup wherever Java runs. This chapter, though, covers only setup in Windows.

The Java Programming Language

The Java programming language is one of the most popular choices for Web application development for a number of reasons. First, Web applications written in Java are portable. That means that the same Java application you write for a Windows machine can also be run on Mac OS, Linux, or Solaris without the need for changes to your code.

In addition to portability, Java is well-supported by a number of development tools that make developing and deploying Java Web applications much easier. The Eclipse IDE, when configured to work together with other development tools, can help you ...