There are many ways to approach learning Java TM programming.
Some people start by writing a simple applet or application, and go on to learn about servlets.
Others need to learn about a particular technology area right away. No matter what your approach, to learn and develop applications written in the Java programming language, you must first set up the Java platform. This article introduces the Java platform and the tools to write applications. This article details how to compile and run your first application. Your First Cup of Java by Ray Ortigas Additional help on setting up the Java platform on your computer.