by Michael Thomas ( www.michael-thomas.com )
This page has info on some of the first steps you will need to take to work with Java. I've received many emails from Java Beginners so I hope this page will help you get started. Other beginner links can be found at my Java Home Page.
( Home Page: Free Web Tutorials on Java & Web Technologies )
Prerequisites: 1) Know how to unzip a file. 2) Create new directories. (Click here for help on these prerequisites)
When you have time, take the Eclipse (First Steps) tutorial.
You will download & install Eclipse then create and compile a java program.
Sun's Java Tutorial - it's free! Very good learning tool! Each section takes ~2-3hrs.
There is a book that you can buy which is a companion to the site called "The Java Tutorial Second Edition". The Swing part of the tutorial is covered in a book called "The JFC Swing Tutorial: A Guide to Constructing GUIs". More info at the site. You can take the Tutorial without purchasing the book!
Take the following tutorials in the section called "Trails Covering the Basics": "Your first cup of Java", "Getting Started", "Learning the Java Language", "Essential Java Classes" & "Writing Applets". This will take about 2-3 hrs for each tutorial.
Your First Cup of Java - Instructions on compiling and running your first program: Win32/Linux/Unix/Mac
Getting Started - Create a Java Applet and a Java Application.
Learning the Java Language -
Essential Java Classes -
Writing Applets -
Download the tutorial if you prefer: http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/information/download.html