Book Image

Introduction to JVM Languages

By : van der Leun
Book Image

Introduction to JVM Languages

By: van der Leun

Overview of this book

Anyone who knows software development knows about the Java Virtual Machine. The Java Virtual Machine is responsible for interpreting Java byte code and translating it into actions. In the beginning, Java was the only programming language used for the JVM. But increasing complexity of the language and the remarkable performance of the JVM created an opening for a new generation of programming languages. If you want to build a strong foundation with the Java Virtual Machine and get started with popular modern programming languages, then this book is for you. The book will begin with a general introduction of the JVM and its features, which are common to the JVM languages, helping you get abreast with its concepts. It will then dive into explaining languages such as Java, Scala, Clojure, Kotlin, and Groovy and will show how to work with each language, their features, use cases, and pros and cons. By writing example projects in those languages and focusing on each language’s strong points, it will help you find the programming language that is most appropriate for your particular needs. By the end of the book, you will have written multiple programs that run on the Java Virtual Machine and know about the differences between the various languages.
Table of Contents (15 chapters)

JDK


Developers who want to develop on a JVM should always install JDK. It bundles the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), the Java compiler, and various development tools, some of which we will explore in this chapter. Even if you are planning to do most of your JVM development in a language other than Java, it is strongly advised that you still install the complete JDK. Many prominent development tools require a fully installed JDK to run. Also, sooner or later, you'll probably want to use some of the tools that are only included in JDK.

The recent version of the Linux distribution of the Raspberry Pi installs the Java SE Embedded 8 JDK automatically when using the default Raspian installation options. Be aware though that, often, the supplied version is not up-to-date. We are not aware of other major operating systems that bundle JDK with their default installation. We will cover the following JDK-related topics:

  • Installing JDK (Windows, macOS, and Linux)
  • Exploring JDK
  • JRE

Installing JDK

We will...