Brewing up with Java

Java is multi-purpose, so you will often hear it being referred to as both a ‘language’ and an ‘application platform’. But how does it manifest itself in the real world?

The first thing to be aware of is that Java comes in several different forms:

• Java Server Pages (JSPs) - Put simply, JSPs are used to create so-called ‘dynamic’ web pages with moving elements driven by embedded Java code
• Java Applets - These are small software programs used on the internet that are actually executed from within a web page. Technologies like the instant messaging/chat on Facebook or on-the-page calculations are typically handled by Applets
• Java Enterprise Edition (or J2EE) – This is the industry standard for enterprise Java computing.
• Java Standard Edition (SE) – This is the standard iteration of Java itself
• Java Mobile Edition (ME) or the Java ME Platform SDK - This is a toolbox for developing mobile applications. It provides a “device emulation environment” and a set of utilities for software developers to use when targeting mobile devices with their applications

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