Introduction to Java

Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle) in 1995. It is designed to be platform-independent using the concept of "Write Once, Run Anywhere" (WORA). This is achieved through the Java Virtual Machine (JVM), which allows Java programs to run on any operating system.

Key Features of Java:

1. Platform Independence: Java code is compiled into bytecode, which runs on any device with a JVM.
2. Object-Oriented: Java follows the object-oriented programming (OOP) paradigm.
3. Robust and Secure: It has strong memory management and security features.
4. Multithreading: Supports multiple threads of execution.
5. Garbage Collection: Automatic memory management via the Garbage Collector.
6. Rich API & Libraries: Java comes with extensive libraries for networking, file handling, and more.

Overview of Java Platform and Editions

Java has multiple editions tailored for different application areas:

1. Java Standard Edition (Java SE):
   • Core Java libraries and APIs.
   • Used for developing desktop applications and foundational Java programs.
   • Includes the JDK (Java Development Kit) and JRE (Java Runtime Environment).
2. Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) (Now Jakarta EE):
   • Used for developing web-based, enterprise-level applications.
   • Includes additional APIs like Servlets, JSP, JPA, and EJB.
3. Java Micro Edition (Java ME):
   • Used for developing mobile and embedded systems.
   • Lightweight version of Java SE with specialized APIs.
4. JavaFX:
   • Used for developing rich internet applications with advanced graphical interfaces.

Installation and Setup of Java Development Environment (JDK 17)

Steps to Install JDK 17:

1. Download JDK 17:
   • Visit Oracle's official site or OpenJDK.