[java] What do I need ?

Grab a copy of JDK 1.5, and then either Eclipse or Netbean.
The check the Java Tutorial: http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/

I would suggest that you stick with JDK1.4.x for now. The new 1.5 breaks a fair amount of old code, so I'd wait until it gets updated :)
Also, I would personally suggest that you don't use any of the available IDE's for now....these hide a lot of the basics like classpath stuff and creating JAR files and manifests. Point being, that you may find yourself in trouble later on because you haven't got to grips with the basics (especially classpath issues). A simple text editor should do you for now.
That said, eventually I'd recommend Eclipse over NetBeans....and I used to be a NetBeans fanatic. Eclipse rocks really quite hard indeed.

weird, all my code works in Java 5, what's wrong with you guys?

I would stick with v1.4.2 for now. The Java Tutorial has not been updated yet with v1.5 language features. Also most IDEs probably have not been updated either. As RageMatrix suggested, start without using an IDE until you are comfortable with how the compiler works. Then I would suggest Eclipse(my biased opinion :) )

When you do The Java Tutorial, I would also sugest that you do it from start to finish. Then pick up the J2EE tutorial. J2EE is where the server side stuff is. But you need to know your core Java before startng that.

wow, redmilamber, you're really angry XD
You helped me a lot in many posts I made, so I will take what you said in consideration. But, I've been using the new JDK for a while and got no big problems, really.

To answer Endemoniada's question (are you from Brazil?), take a look at java NIO (java new I/O), which was introduced in JDK 1.4.2, and help you do asynchronous networking without a great mess of native code. Unfortunately, it lacks good documentation, and you may suffer for a while.

I use NetBeans IDE 4.0, and I quite like it, but RageMatrix is right... If you're new to Java, try your hands at JCreator first. The Java Tutorial is a good place to start.

Forgive my awful english..

Hi guys,

Thanks a lot for all that info.

Alright, I just formatted my hard drive this weekend and have a nice clean installation of Win XP Pro (SP2) so I want to make sure I install the right thing.

At the Java site it says that to compile servlets I need the 'JavaServer Web Development Kit'. I used to download just the J2SE 1.4.2 so should I download the J2EE SDK now instead ?

The J2EE 1.4 has the 'Sun Java System Application Server Platform' in it, is that the development kit I need to compile servlets or is that an actual server (like IIS) ?

Thanks again guys, I really appreciate it.

PS - no, I'm not from Brazil, I'm from New York :)

Quote:

Original post by Endemoniada Alright, I just formatted my hard drive this weekend and have a nice clean installation of Win XP Pro (SP2) so I want to make sure I install the right thing.

There is no such thing.

Quote:

At the Java site it says that to compile servlets I need the 'JavaServer Web Development Kit'. I used to download just the J2SE 1.4.2 so should I download the J2EE SDK now instead ?

J2EE is extension of J2SE so you need to have both. Don't forget to download documantation.

I thought you were brazillian because of your nick =D It's a common word around here.

As Raghar said, you will need both the J2SE and the J2EE. The application server is where you deploy your servlets and beans applications.

Good thing to do is to read the java tutorial, also the version for J2EE. That will teach you how to deploy applications and all stuff related to the server 'manteinance'. Try that before using an IDE that does everything for you - like Netbeans.

Cya
Son of Cain

[Edited because of typing mistakes. Forgive my english, I always ask for that]

whats wrong with notepad and the command prompt?

To those complaining about Java 5.0 in relation to generics/arrays:
Please post a link or provide a real explanation of the issue. Without any kind of substantiation, your claims mean nothing. I've been using generics with arrays in my code together since they were released, and I have experienced nothing but joy.