[kman42]

I'm taking an introductory Java class starting next month. Is there anything about Java on OSX that would preclude me from using it for this class? Basically, will I be able to generate code that is cross-platform so that my instructors can run it on their presumably non-Mac computers?

I know Java is supposed to be platform independent, but I also know that MS has perverted it for their own purposes and I had heard that Apple actually had the most current version of Java on osx which wasn't true of MS.

I really don't know much about Java (thus the class), so I'm basically looking for some guidelines. Can I use PB or will I have to get a different dev environment?

thanks,
kman

[me]

I don't know any universities that use MS's perverted Java. Check the course webpage for a previous quarter, does it specify what software tools they will be using?

Really though it doesn't matter, for example a few years ago when I took introductory C programming they recommended MSVC - I used CodeWarrior and was fine. For your class I figure they are probably using MSVC, JBuilder, Sun's dev tools, or BlueJ. Really it doesn't matter what dev tools they use. If they use BlueJ (very common in intro classes) its a free download for Mac OS X. If they use any of the other tools, chances are Project Builder will be fine. My advice is don't worry, Mac OS X kicks a$$ for development.

[ 03-12-2002: Message edited by: me ]

[kman42]

Okay. As long as there are solutions that will let me turn in code that is fully functional on their machines. I just want to know that there isn't anything funny going on with osx's implementation of java.

I got by fine in a Python class using a cli version of python. I installed xfree86 so that I could get the IDLE environment, but it was a bit cumbersome. I'll be stoked when someone gets IDLE ported natively to osx.

thanks,
kman

[Kristoff]

You'll be fine.

Try Netbeans for your IDE for Java.
It works great on OSX.