If you are using Windows XP or Vista, you will need Java 2 Platform Standard Edition Development Kit 6 and jGRASP. Both of these come on a CD with your textbook. If you bought a used textbook without a CD or if you want the most up-to-date version, here are the links to download and install this software on your computer.
If you are using a Macintosh with Mac OS X, your computer already comes with the necessary software to create and run Java programs. You will just need the jGRASP program if you want to be consistent with this class.
Java SE Development Kit (JDK) from Sun Microsystems. Download and install the latest version of the JDK (currently JDK 6 Update 13) to your computer. For Windows and Linux only.
jGRASP from www.jgrasp.org. Click on the Download link on the left side of that web page (it is not easy to find, but it is just under "Home" on the upper left corner of that page under the logo). For all computers.
The Java SE JDK is the software necessary to make, run, and debug Java programs. Sun Microsystems provides this software for free in order to promote the use of the Java programming language.
The jGRASP is a program development environment, written in Java, that can be used for a variety of programming languages. jGRASP was developed using funds from the National Science Foundation (NSF), NASA, Department of Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA), and the Defense Information Systems Agency (DISA). Because of this government funding, jGRASP is free.
Most computers have the Java JRE, but not all computers have the JDK. You will need both the JRE and the JDK for this class.
JRE = Java Runtime Environment - most computers have this installed. You need this to run Java programs. Most people run Java applets from the Internet using their web browser.
JDK = Java Development Kit - only for Java programmers. You need this to write Java programs.
If you want to update your JRE, go to www.java.com and click on the link "Do I Have Java?" to check and install the latest version of the Java software.
Macintosh Users
I am an old Mac user from way back (1985 to 1999 from Mac SE to PowerPC G3), but because of money considerations and because Windows 95 finally started to look like a good alternative to the more expensive Macintosh computers, I became a PC.
I can answer questions about Java, Java programming, Windows XP and Vista, web and Internet, but I will be quite limited in my abilities to help you with your Mac OS X related questions.
Linux Users
I am an old BSD Unix programmer from the 1980's, but I never got into Linux. I never had a need to do so. I have not programmed in Unix since the late 1980's.