macOS Java on Mac - Where to start?

[Zwhaler]

I just started taking a Java class at my school, and to be honest, I am pretty good at it. What I want to know is where to start when it comes to using and creating Java programs on my Mac. We are using PCs with Windows 2000 at the school and are using a program called "Text Pad" for about a week until the computers get JCreator installed on them. So I just want to know where I should go to download a simple program that allows me to write code in Java. Thanks.

 

[psingh01]

I just started taking a Java class at my school, and to be honest, I am pretty good at it. What I want to know is where to start when it comes to using and creating Java programs on my Mac. We are using PCs with Windows 2000 at the school and are using a program called "Text Pad" for about a week until the computers get JCreator installed on them. So I just want to know where I should go to download a simple program that allows me to write code in Java. Thanks.

If you have your OSX discs then you have everything you need. Just install the Apple Developer Tools and you can use Xcode to do your development. You can always just use any text editor and then compile from the mac terminal (which is probably similar to what you are doing in the pc now).

If you want a powerful Java IDE (for both Windows and OSX) then download Eclipse (free):

http://www.eclipse.org/downloads/

 

[Jasonbot]

If you want something small use BlueJ but really the easiest is to just use XCode.

 

[Zwhaler]

Ok, thanks for the replies. I will give this a try.

 

[Zwhaler]

Ok I'm installing a folder called "XCode Tools". Is that the right one? It's from Install Disk 1.

 

[toddburch]

That's it.

Todd

 

[Zwhaler]

Got it! Thanks for all your help.

 

[Blacky]

xcode is a little primitive for java development, I would just start using eclipse if I were you.

 

[scoobe]

It Depends

If you are just starting out, and want to REALLY know java, get a simple text editor (nano, vim, or even Textmate) and manually compile/run with javac and java. You should already have the J2SE 1.4.2 runtime, but not necessarily the JDK. You can get the newer versions off of Apple's developer site: Here

If you want an IDE (has code completion - which might hinder your learning of the language) there is eclipse as mentioned above (which is written in Java), and Sun's NetBeans IDE.