where to download Java?

[ruby_moon]

I am totally new to Java, i am learning java through textbook. i want to download JDK1.4.2 to practise some exercise; however, there are so many kinda of these version. i do not know which one should i download ( actyually i tried to download one, but it is some kind of window office, stuffs with drawing and notepad ). hihi would you mind telling which one is the rite version for me to download?
Thanx a lot

[wtd]

Go to http://java.sun.com and download the 1.4.2 SDK (Software Development Kit).

http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.4.2/download.html

It's the first of the wide sections down.

[ruby_moon]

Thank you . Is it J2SEv1.4.2_06SDK? i downloaded it, but when i set it up it is just Java Web Start, there is no program for writing code.
How come?

[wtd]

ruby_moon wrote:

Thank you . Is it J2SEv1.4.2_06SDK? i downloaded it, but when i set it up it is just Java Web Start, there is no program for writing code.
How come?

Because Java programs are just text. You don't need a special program to write them. Just write your program in something like NotePad or TextPad, save it, then go into the command-line and compile it with the javac.exe program.

[Martin]

You can also use eclipse

www.eclipse.org

[ruby_moon]

hihi thanks a lot. i thought java is similar like C++
Thank you

[wtd]

ruby_moon wrote:

hihi thanks a lot. i thought java is similar like C++
Thank you

You don't need an IDE to program. There's nothing magical about source code! It's just plain text that a compiler or interpreter turns into a form that in one way or another can be executed by the computer.

[Martin]

Unless you are using a Microsoft IDE, in which case it refuses to compile if you have less than 10 redundant .proj etc. files sitting around.