February 5th, 2012
Java is one of the most successful programming languages ever developed by the Sun Microsystems under the name of OAK for use on small hand held devices and set top boxes. However, the imminent failure of this language heralded the need for Java. OAK was only renamed with a few minor changes to accommodate the requirement of a programming language that would work independent of the operating system or the architecture of the computer so as to take advantage of the World Wide Web that was burgeoning as the next frontier for Computer in the year 1995.
The language borrows heavily from the sister languages of C and C++ without the added complications that these languages suffer from. Hence, Java is free from some glitches that cause programming errors. The Java files are stored as a source code in the format of .java in the form of class extension also called as byte code that can be deciphered by Java interpreters. These interpreters are also called as Java Virtual Machines that can run on almost all operating systems.
These instructions can be easily converted into machine language by making use of the JIT or Just in Time Compiler so that they can work on devices that lack an OS. The advantage of this language with regards to the internet is that they are often small in size and can be easily downloaded by a user to run on Java enabled browsers such as Navigator and Internet Explorer. It is still one of the most used language for developing online programs and interactive videos.