Without a doubt, Java stands out for being one of the most famous programming languages today and it is even the main language in which a large number of programmers around the world have developed their professional careers. Taking into account that, He has more than 20 years with us.
It should be noted that this authentic modern language was conceived around the idea of working on any computer. which is about a project developed by James Gosling’s teama renowned computer scientist who is the father of this programming language.
Given the notable importance that Java has had since its birth, it is necessary to know what are the particularities that distinguished this language from the rest since its inception and even, also know which versions of it exist to this day. Therefore, all this will be detailed throughout the post.
What salient features set Java apart from other programming languages when it came out?
In view of the great fame that this computer language has, surely you are wondering What are the qualities it exhibits compared to other programming languages? what’s upso that so many programmers decide to develop in this world of technology from it.
In such a way that, next, we let you know the most important particularities that the Java language shows since its inception:
- It’s a computer language with much more power than JavaScript and all the other existing ones, thanks to the fact that it has a general purpose and in effect, more varied applications can be carried out.
- It is completely object oriented. This means that both the data and the functions that work with it are organized in structures called “lessons”. Therefore, it will be necessary create classes to program with java.
- Unlike some other computer languages, in Java it is necessary to have a development kit and a compiler.
- It has strong structures, that is to say is a strongly typed language. Therefore, when declaring a variable in it, it will be mandatory to indicate its type and thus, it will not be able to change from one type to another automatically.
- In Java, primitive data types have identical sizes and behavior on any platform. Whether it’s Windows, Solaris, Unis, etc.).
- Regarding memory management in Java, it should be noted that it is automatic. Which means that this automatically assigned when an object is created and, in this sense, a “garbage collector” is responsible for releasing it when there is no reference to the object in question.
- It is considered as the most robust and safelike the most neutral, dynamic and simple regarding JavaScript, C++ and SmallTalk, for example.
Timeline of all Java versions that have been developed so far
Now, it is time to detail the versions of Java that exist so far, in order to specify How many are there and what are they?also knowing its characteristics of greatest interest.
Thus, we begin the list chronologically, below:
java version 1.0
Release date: January 23, 1996
As its identification allows us to deduce, it is the first version of the Java computer language. Which, was announced by the scientific director of Sun Microsystems, john gage and the vice president of Netscape, marc andreessen. Noting that, the latter character also reported that Java series is supported in Netscape browsers.
Main features:
- Contains the main classes, the virtual machine and the graphical API of AWT.
- It was a great innovation for the world of technologysince from it, the experts provided a platform-independent language and a free and lightweight execution environment for the most popular platforms.
- Thanks to this version, the main web browsers added, shortly after, the possibility of executing Java applets that were embedded in websites.
java version 1.1
Release date: February 19, 1997
A year later, the second version of this programming language emerged. Which included substantial improvements and took an important leap with respect to the use of language worldwide.
Main features:
- It was based on incorporating several classes that were missing, such as: Readers/Writers, Calendars and Bundles.
- The greatest contribution in version 1.1, without a doubt, was the fact that add the JavaBeans standard and the JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) API for database connection. Which is estimated as a fact of relevance in computing.
- also shows an intensive restructuring of the AWT (Abstract Windowing Toolkit) event model.
- Includes internal classes or “inner classes”.
java version 1.2
Release date: December 08, 1998
With another very important evolution, this new version of the programming language appears, which is collected under the name “Java 2” and the name “J2SE”. Taking into account that, from here, the following versions treasured said denomination.
Main features:
- It exhibited the arrival of Collections framework and the Swing API. Which allows you to develop much more complex window interfaces.
- Contains JavaIDLwhich is an implementation of IDL or “Interface for Language Description” designed for interoperability with CORBA.
- For the first time, Sun’s virtual machine was equipped with a compiler Just in Time (JIT).
- Other particularities: Java Plug-in, collections or “collections”, the strictfp keyword, etc.
java version 1.3
Release Date: May 08, 2000
Also recognized as “2SE 1.3”, which brought important improvements in the new millennium. Taking into account that, so far, it is already a mature platform.
Main features:
- JNDI support is added or Java Naming and Directory Interface in the core library package. Which, previously, was only available as an extension.
- In this version the inclusion of the HotSpot JVM virtual machine with JIT compilation. Which was released in April 1999 for the J2SE 1.2 JVM.
- Here RMI was changed so that will be based on CORBA.
- Contains JavaSound and the Java Platform Debugger Architecture (JPDA).
java version 1.4
Release date: February 06, 2002
It is distinguished from the other versions, as it is the first release of the Java platform developed under the Java Community process as “JSR 59”. This version is also identified as “J2SE 1.4”.
Main features:
- As for the new APIs, there is a truly relevant leap. since it adds API I/O for reading and writing images in formats such as JPEG or PNG. Like Logging API (Specified in JSR 47.).
- Powerful support for XML and Regular Expressions is also incorporated.
- It has built-in security and cryptographic extensions, such as: JCE, JSSE, JAAS. Plus Java Web Start included.
java version 1.5
Release date: September 30, 2004
Two years later, Java 5 or “J2SE 5.0” was born; version in which it was possible to notice two important jumps at the level of the Core of the language. In view of the inclusion of “Generic Types” and the concept of metadata with the use of annotations.
Main features:
- Thanks to the use of annotations in this version, it is possible tag classes or methods with additional data. Which can be processed by metadata processing utilities, later.
- There is evidence of a significant expansion regarding API support They are oriented to concurrent programming.
- The keyword “enum” create a typesafe; ordered list of values (such as Day.MONDAY, Day.TUESDAY, etc.). Which could only be done by integer constants or manually constructed classes, previously.
- Sample an improved “for loop”. Since, the syntax has been extended with a special one to iterate over each member of an array or over any class that implements Iterable, like the standard Collection class, for example.
java version 1.6
Release Date: December 11, 2006
This version of 2006 was in development under JSR 270 and it was right in this where Sun changed the name “J2SE” that was established since version 1.2 by “JavaSE”. As well as the new versions, this one also showed important changes and/or improvements.
Main features:
- Add Mozilla’s Rhino Enginewhich is an implementation of the well-known JavaScript programming language in Java.
- It has excellent improvements in your performance and also in the graphical interface.
- It includes a complete web services client and also has support for the latest specifications for web services. Such as: JAX-WS 2.0, JAXB 2.0, STAX, and JAXP.
- Among its best advantages, it adds a new framework and APIs that allow combine Java with dynamic languages (PHP, Python, Ruby and JavaScript).
java version 1.7
Release date: Between 2006 and 2008 was in the early planning stages. Its official launch was in July 2011
It is also called “Java SE 7” and his code name is Dolphin. Thus, it produces a great optimization of the virtual machine, since it included new garbage collectors. But, his changes around language are truly limited.
Main features:
- Have XML support in their own language. Same as for closures.
- Features standard annotation input for detect software bugs.
- Manage a new concept of superpackage.
- It also adds: New API for managing Days and Dateswhich will replace the old Date and Calendar classes, the Java Module System, the Java Kernel, and the ability to operate on BigDecimal classes using operands.
java version 8
Release date: March 2014
Mainly, it is a version that has the Lambda expression support and use of streamswhich ensures a much more functional style for Java programs.
Main features:
- Completely, it incorporated the library JavaFX within the Java JDK.
- Includes a notable improvement around security, concurrency, and JavaScript integration. The latter, due to the Nashorn Project to have a JavaScript engine.
- Within his scheme to a more functional approach, the transformations also appear MapReduce.
java version 9
Release Date: September 21, 2017
It is one of the newer versions of this programming language, which is also known as Java SE 9. In this sense, it should be noted that, although its scheduled launch date was July 9 of that same year, this was somewhat delayed due to some security issues located within the platform.
Main features:
- You can find the “Project Jigsaw” inside this version of Java. What, establishes the modularization of the JDK.
- It offers full support for…
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