The Java Development Kit includes the essential development tools (JDK) and the Java Runtime Environment (JRE). The development tool compiles the Java source code into byte codes and the JRE is the response to execute the byte codes. We will need several Java compilations in later chapters. SmartFoxServer is build on the Java environment and we need the JRE to start up the server. The JDK and JRE may be pre-installed in some OSs.
The steps for installing JDK on Windows are as follows:
1. Go to http://java.sun.com/javase/downloads/.
2. Click on the Download button of Java. It will lead to the Java SE Downloads page.
3. Select Windows (or Windows x64 for 64-bits Windows) in Platform.
4. Click on Download.
5. If it prompts an optional login request, we can click the Skip this Step to bypass it.
6. Launch the installer after the download.
7. Install the Java Development Kit with all default settings.
8. The Java environment is ready after...