Appendix A. Crash Course on Java

If you are a JavaScript, Perl, or C++ programmer and you are not familiar with Java, this appendix is for you. Java is a natural companion to XML. This appendix teaches you just enough Java to be able use it with XML.

In this appendix, you learn

• how Java compares to JavaScript and other programming languages

• why Java is important for XML

• how to install a Java runtime environment and run Java applications

• enough Java to read and write simple programs

You don't have to become a super-trooper in Java programming, but some familiarity with "the other Web language" is required for serious fun with XML. If anything, there are more XML tools available in Java than in any other language.

If you want to quickly learn how to run the Java package introduced in Chapter 3, turn to the section "Downloading Java Tools," and the section Understanding the Classpath