Java For Mac OS X

Apple has optimized Java on Mac OS X to look great and perform superbly, making Mac OS X the ultimate platform for developing and deploying cross-platform Java applications.
Java Screens: Java Applications, Xcode Development, and Web Applets

Java Compatible

Java has become the de-facto standard language for developing cross-platform applications. Recognizing this, Apple has made Java a core component of Mac OS X. Mac OS X includes the full version of Java 2, Standard Edition — meaning you have the Java Developer Kit (JDK) and the HotSpot virtual machine (VM) without downloading, installing or configuring anything. And because Apple has optimized Java on Mac OS X, Java applications act as first-class citizens on Mac OS X.
Quartz Extreme
Cross-platform Compatibility

Java applications take on the Aqua look and feel by default and implement Java’s graphics directly on top of Quartz, providing the best-looking Java ever. Mac OS X also makes Java applications leaner and faster — it reduces the memory footprint of Java applications by providing a version of Java HotSpot VM that implements a mechanism similar to shared libraries. Plus, to help developers get started out of the box, Mac OS X also includes an integrated development environment — Xcode.
Safari
Safari Supports Applets

On Mac OS X, Java applets work best in Safari, which takes advantage of the latest version of the standard Java Internet Plug-In. Applets load faster than previously and the plug-in supports new advanced caching features for Java classes and JAR files. Certificates used in signed applets are now stored directly in the Mac OS X Keychain, providing centralized access. What’s more, with the Java Plug-In, Safari supports websites that use LiveConnect for communication between JavaScript and Java applets, letting you work with more Java-based websites than ever before on the Mac.
Xserve rack
Protect and Serve

Java is one of the key components of a good server solution. That’s why it’s a vital part of the Mac OS X Server software for Xserve. In addition, Mac OS X Server includes all of the components necessary to host high-performance J2EE-based applications — including JBoss, Apache Tomcat and Apache Axis. As if that weren’t enough, Xserve also includes a deployment license of the full WebObjects Java application server, so that you can deploy sophisticated web applications right out of the box.
Less Memory, Faster Start

On other platforms, each Java application consumes some system memory, so you might end up using more memory than you need to when running multiple Java applications. Other languages, such as C or C++, solve this problem using what’s called shared libraries. Apple developed an innovative new technology that allows Java code to be shared across multiple applications. This reduces the amount of memory that Java applications normally use. And it fits right into Sun’s Java HotSpot VM, allowing Mac OS X to remain compatible with standard Java. In addition, Apple has given this implementation to Sun so the company can deploy it on other platforms. It’s just one example of how Apple supports standards and shares ideas to benefit all.
Universal Access
User Friendly

As with all other Mac OS X applications, accessible Java applications get all the accessibility benefits of Mac OS X, including full keyboard access, visual notifications and the innovative Zoom view, as well as Tiger’s new integrated VoiceOver screen reader
AppleScript
Scriptable Java Applications

Now Java applications are scriptable on Mac OS X, thanks to the new UI Scripting facility in AppleScript. You can automate your Java applications, selecting menu items, pushing buttons and exchanging data. It’s the perfect tool for testing and including Java applications in your workflows.

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Do Not Fear With OOP

When I first started learning how to program Java, I was left totally confused about this whole "object-oriented" thing. What books I had explained the concept poorly, and then went straight on to advanced programming tips. I felt frustrated and lost. Not being particularly math-oriented, I needed a good analogy to help me understand the nature of Java.

I have created this brief tutorial not in order to be an exhaustive Java resource, but rather to introduce readers to the concepts of object oriented programming in a way that is non-threatening. If all goes well, we'll have you all in pocket protectors before the end of the hour.

There are three different levels of this tutorial, coded by color. Green is for those readers who want the most basic introduction. It is targeted at those who are unsure what object-oriented programming is, and could use a good analogy to make things clearer. Yellow is for those who want to be able to understand object-oriented programming just enough to be able to read and follow it, but are not yet ready to learn the intricacies of coding Java. [Jump to a site with darker yellow.] And finally, the third level, red, is for you daredevils who want to be able to program in Java, but just want to ease into it slowly.

In short, the green text gives a "plain English" version of the code that would be necessary, the yellow uses that English in a way that more closely resembles the format of code, and the red is the actual code that would be necessary for the program to work. Readers of all levels are encouraged to skip between the colors to deepen their understanding. Finally, although this tutorial operates mostly through analogy, innuendo, and intrigue, those words that appear in boldface are the actual terms used by Java programmers (ooooh!), so try to remember them as you go along.

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