Introduction to Java
Open Source • IDE • Java Versions • Hardware & Software Requirements
1 Open Source Software
Open Source software is software whose source code is freely available for anyone to view, modify,
and distribute. It is typically developed collaboratively by a community of developers and is free to use.
Key Characteristics of Open Source Software:
Feature Description
Free to Use No licensing cost; freely downloadable and usable
Source Code Access Full source code is publicly available for study
Modifiable Anyone can modify the code to suit their needs
Redistributable Modified versions can be shared with others
Community-Driven Developed and maintained by a global community
Java itself is open source — the OpenJDK (Open Java Development Kit) is the official open-source reference
implementation of the Java platform.
2 IDE — Integrated Development Environment
An Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is a software application that provides a
comprehensive set of tools for writing, editing, compiling, debugging, and running programs — all
within a single interface.
Features of an IDE:
Feature Description
Code Editor Text editor with syntax highlighting and auto-complete
Compiler Converts source code into bytecode / machine code
Debugger Helps identify and fix errors in the program
Build Automation Automates compiling and running with one click
Project Manager Organises files and resources of a project
Error Highlighting Marks errors in the code as you type
Suggested IDEs / Tools for Java
Tool / IDE Type Description License
OpenJDK Open Java Core Java compiler and runtime — required Free / Open
Development Kit for all Java programs Source
DrJava Beginner-friendly Simple, lightweight IDE designed for Free / Open
IDE students learning Java Source
BlueJ Educational IDE Ideal for beginners; shows object interaction Free / Open
visually Source
NetBeans Full-featured IDE Professional IDE with GUI builder; supports Free / Open
many languages Source
MyEclipse Commercial IDE Feature-rich IDE based on Eclipse; used in Commercial
industry
Recommended for Class IX: BlueJ or DrJava — both are lightweight, beginner-friendly, and freely available.
3 Versions of Java
Java has evolved significantly since its first public release in 1995. Each version introduced new
features, improved performance, and enhanced security. The Long-Term Support (LTS) versions are
recommended for stable, production-level use.
Version Year Notable Features
Java 1.0 1996 First public release; basic language features
Java 1.1 1997 Inner classes, JavaBeans, JDBC, RMI introduced
Java 2 (1.2) 1998 Swing GUI, Collections framework, JIT compiler
Java 5 2004 Generics, enhanced for-loop, autoboxing, annotations
Java 8 ★ 2014 Lambda expressions, Stream API (LTS version)
Java 11 ★ 2018 New String methods, local variable type inference (LTS)
Java 17 ★ 2021 Sealed classes, pattern matching, records (LTS)
Java 21 ★ 2023 Virtual threads, sequenced collections (Latest LTS)
★ denotes Long-Term Support (LTS) versions.
4 Hardware & Software Requirements
Hardware Requirements
Component Requirement
Processor Intel/AMD x86 or x64 processor; minimum 1 GHz recommended
RAM Minimum 512 MB; 2 GB or more recommended for IDE use
Hard Disk At least 200 MB free space for JDK installation; 1 GB+ for IDE
Display Minimum 800 x 600 resolution; 1024 x 768 or higher preferred
Input Devices Standard keyboard and mouse
Internet Required for downloading JDK/IDE; not needed during coding
Software Requirements
Software Purpose / Details
Operating System Windows 7/8/10/11, Linux (Ubuntu etc.), or macOS
JDK (Java Development Kit) Required to compile and run Java programs; OpenJDK recommended
JRE (Java Runtime
Required to run compiled Java programs (bundled with JDK)
Environment)
IDE / Text Editor DrJava, BlueJ, NetBeans, MyEclipse, or any text editor
Web Browser To access Java documentation and online resources
Minimum setup to start coding in Java: Install OpenJDK (provides the compiler and runtime) +
BlueJ or DrJava (provides the IDE). Both are free, open source, and run on Windows, Linux, and
macOS.
Java Introduction | Class IX ICSE Computer Science | Open Source • IDE • Versions • Requirements