Java

I don't know if Java is an application?
I know there used to be a "steaming coffee cup" icon for Java in my Control Panel. Well, it is gone, and when I went to the Java site it told me that my computer is not running Java.
How does a computer lose its Java? Do I need it?

Rike
"Time is what prevents everything from happening at once." - John Archibald Wheeler

I don't know how it got lost and as to do you need it, well that depends. There are some sites that you do need it to be able to run them, like speed test sites to check your Internet speed.

I don't have a clue really about just what it's supposed to do or not do but I know I have it because some things I do need it.

You'll have to wait for the experts to enlighten you on it's ins and outs but those are my thoughts on it.

Joan Archer
http://crossstitcher.webs.com/

Joan is correct.  You need it for sites that use Java.  Java provides website interactivity of one sort or another.  If you go to a site that needs it, it will let you know, and no doubt give you a link to download it.

Patty MacDuffie
Computer Haven Admin 

Live Long and Prosper
Mr. Spock

Ulrike


I don't know if Java is an application? 

I suppose Java could be called an application.  Java is a programming language just like C or Visual Basic.  Probably a better way to define the thing would be to say that it is used to create applications but is not really one in of itself.  There are applications that make writing Java code easier but you could write a full Java application using nothing but Notepad.
 
What you install on a computer is not really Java, it is a Java runtime package just like a runtime package for C or Basic.  The runtime package interprets the Java code and translates it in to code that a computer can understand.
 
Java applications can be embedded within a web page or can be totally stand alone applications that do not even use your browser.

Jay
I have a photographic memory but no film...
My.Jaylach
Photo Gallery 
Beerme's GIF Gallery

Thank you all! It is still a mystery how it disappeared from my computer, but I downloaded it and now have my Java cup back in Control Panel.

Jay, your explanation is great. I knew some it, but when it comes to programming it is almost like my brain wants to fog up. When I see the first word about programming, my brain expects a page of chinese letters and that's what it gets! Do you think a person has to be genetically made up to understand some of that stuff or am I just not trying hard enough? I get so frustrated when my computer does something I don't understand - and when I have no idea about where or what to check; and then I ask questions here at CH or some other forums and somebody will say "Oh well, here, just do this or that..." and it is fixed!

Thank you all for being here!

Rike
"Time is what prevents everything from happening at once." - John Archibald Wheeler

Programming is a weird science.   I have not done actual application programming in many many years but used to love it.  I programmed in a few forms of BASIC and Assembly.  Assembly is about as close to entering the actual ones and zeros a computer understands as you are likely to get.

I guess a certain mind set helps with programming but is not really needed.  Way back when some computer magazines would publish actual programming code whether it be a simple game or a utility.  I used to type these in but stop when I hit something I did not understand.  When I did understand I would continue.  In this way I taught myself.
 
By the way, don't ever get mixed up between Java and Java Script.  The fact that they both contain the word 'Java' is the only thing in common.  Java is an interpretive language while Java Script is a scripting language... two totally different critters.

Jay
I have a photographic memory but no film...
My.Jaylach
Photo Gallery 
Beerme's GIF Gallery

jaylach


 
By the way, don't ever get mixed up between Java and Java Script.  The fact that they both contain the word 'Java' is the only thing in common.  Java is an interpretive language while Java Script is a scripting language... two totally different critters.

Here you go: I know there is a difference, and I understand the words "interpretive language" and "scripting language", but that's as far as my brain will go - I cannot even imagine what the difference might look like. I really do enjoy reading all the different threads here at CH - even the advanced ones. Hopefully, I'm learning some of the every-day tasks that make computer life easier.

Rike
"Time is what prevents everything from happening at once." - John Archibald Wheeler

Rike,

take a teensy test (it won't hurt... I promise!  )

http://java.com/en/download/installed.jsp

What says?


Urmas –Ick weeß doch, wo de Ferdeäppel blieh'n

Registered Insane Linux User # 003

Urmas


Rike,

take a teensy test (it won't hurt... I promise!  )

http://java.com/en/download/installed.jsp

What says?


Urmas –Ick weeß doch, wo de Ferdeäppel blieh'n

Urmas,
it works, I downloaded it after I found it missing. The interesting thing is that some other things - Firefox add-ons like WOT and IE View - were missing also. Mysteriously, today when I opened Firefox, they have returned!

Rike
"Time is what prevents everything from happening at once." - John Archibald Wheeler

Gremlins...

Rike, Sorry, I used some terms that I probably should not have here.  Or, at least, I should have defined them.

It is way beyond the scope of these forums to get into a real discussion on the differences between Java and Java Script.  The simplest and possibly the biggest difference would be that you can create a totally stand alone application with Java but not with Java Script.  Java Script relies on your browser to work.

Jay
I have a photographic memory but no film...
My.Jaylach
Photo Gallery 
Beerme's GIF Gallery

jaylach


Rike, Sorry, I used some terms that I probably should not have here.  Or, at least, I should have defined them.

It is way beyond the scope of these forums to get into a real discussion on the differences between Java and Java Script.  The simplest and possibly the biggest difference would be that you can create a totally stand alone application with Java but not with Java Script.  Java Script relies on your browser to work.

Oh, no problem, Jay! Even though these Forums were created for intermediate and newer computer users, we still should learn the correct language and terms to use so we can explain our problems. It is so great to have all you knowledgeable people at our fingertips! Thanks!

Rike
"Time is what prevents everything from happening at once." - John Archibald Wheeler