Thread: Few Beginner Questions

1. Is a program written in Java called a Java program. 2. How are Java programs read and executed by the computer? Does the Java software perform this task? 3. When a program is executed in any programming language, does the code have to be translated to the computer's machine language for the computer to understand? Are programming languages created for easier human understanding and the computer machine language, which consists of all numbers, is for the computer's understanding only?

Welcome to the forum.

These look like quiz or test questions that we won't answer for you. If you tell us what you think the answers are and ask for feedback, we may be able to do that, but it depends on your effort.

Your questions aren't really specific to Java but could be asked about any programming language, so for a better general understanding of the topic, you might read up on programming basics like source code, linking, compiling, and compiled versus interpreted languages. Where Java is unique is in the use of the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) for each computing architecture so that the same program can run on different computers, so you might also read up on that. (The JVM is now used to run other programming languages besides Java, and you can find a list of those by searching.)

Good luck!

Thanks for the reply. They weren't test questions, but questions that I came up with myself from reading a Java programming book. Although I may not get the answers here, I'm sure I will find them, whether it be further along in the book, or through more online research. I am just hoping I can get some assistance on this forum from experienced programmers who know a whole lot more than me.

Then jot those questions down and keep reading. When the Java book you're reading presents example programs, type them out and get them running, every one, until you understand them completely. When you get to the end of the chapter, do every exercise until they work and you understand them completely. If you still have unanswered questions from your reading or doing the example/exercise programs, bring them here. But give yourself a chance to get through and absorb the material.

Originally Posted by GregBrannon

Then jot those questions down and keep reading. When the Java book you're reading presents example programs, type them out and get them running, every one, until you understand them completely. When you get to the end of the chapter, do every exercise until they work and you understand them completely. If you still have unanswered questions from your reading or doing the example/exercise programs, bring them here. But give yourself a chance to get through and absorb the material.

Good advice. That's exactly where my mindset is at. I'm completing every single exercise, answering all the questions, and not moving on to the next chapter until I understand everything in the current chapter. I will only post a question here if, after completing a full chapter and understanding everything, I still have an unanswered question. However, I might not wait until the end of the book to find out if the book contains the answer. I'm taking it chapter by chapter.

Of course don't wait until the end of the book to ask a question, or even to the end of the chapter. Chapters are often broken into sections that build on each other, so if you're not understanding the finer points of a section, you should ask for help.

Originally Posted by New Coder

and not moving on to the next chapter until I understand everything in the current chapter

Left behind and right ahead.

Understand that programming is a broad field and the things you learn on one project feed into future endevours. Staying flexibility is a brilliant asset for any problem solver so I can't help but think this approach is counter-productive to becoming a programmer.

The questions you have asked relate to the role and very essence of the language. The Java Development Kit (JDK) allows programmers to compile Java source code (.java files) into byte code (.class files) that can be executed by the Java Virtual Machine (JVM).

Google the colored terms if they are unfamiliar. Flexibility is great but self learning is even more important.

Originally Posted by GregBrannon

Your questions aren't really specific to (x) but could be asked about any programming language

The only reason I am posting on a Friday night after a long week is because of how import this statement is. I wish I understood this 5 years ago because I would be 7 years ahead of where I am now.