[PnkFloyd27]

I'm learning Java and I was wondering if classes are kind of like a subroutine because they seem that way. The only difference that I see is that a class has methods and constructors and stuff.

[Vormund]

Hmm, yeah, you could definitely say that... a collection of one or more 'subroutines', but the broad view makes it much more useful. Objects can be manipulated in every way...I don't know how to say it, but I'm sure you'll see shortly. It's a great language if you don't count the overhead of needing Java to run the application(s).

[dingdong-man]

I'm learning Java as well, but i'm still having a lot of question in my mind.. like the structure of the full program if it's applied to be the .exe. Actually what developer is mostly used by java programmer to create an application? is Eclipse or Microsoft Visual Studio better? or maybe only textPad?

[Vormund]

TextPad is terrible...but it's supported by a few Universities. But being just a text-editor, you do learn the Java API classes quite a bit better. For actual development...Eclipse all the way! I've not used Visual Studio and didn't even know it was capable...but Eclipse was built around Java, and all the bells and whistles to go along with it, so I doubt it stands a chance.

One thing to note, there are no .exe's in Java... well, not in any usable way. You just need the runtime environment and a Java version of 'exe' - .jar. A somewhat good explanation here.

[dingdong-man]

wow...so lucky i can know that basic thing.. i tried once to creating the .jar via command promt and combine manifest file and so on, i thought it's gonna be another final application like .exe...hahaha...

yea, one thing i like about eclipse, it uses the 3rd party GUI component - not the original java GUI. which produce the form of window that is similar to my Win XP... i'm not really sure, but i notice the diff when i tried with some of the developer... including netbeans 5.0.