README

JavaTM Development Kit
Version 1.2

Introduction
Thank you for downloading this release of the JavaTM Development Kit, version 1.2. The Java Development Kit (JDKTM) is the development environment for building applications, applets, and components that can be deployed on the Java platform. This README file covers both the JDK Production Release for Windows and the JDK Reference Implementation for Solaris. A Japanese version of this README is on the Java Software website.

The JDK software includes tools useful for developing and testing programs written in the Java programming language and running on the Java 1.2 platform. These tools are designed to be used from the command line. Except for appletviewer, these tools do not provide a graphical user interface.

On Windows, a separate Java Runtime Environment including Java Plug-in is also installed with the JDK. On Solaris, you can obtain this separately. For more information, see Java Runtime Environment including Java Plug-in.

[web] - This marker, which appears throughout this README file, indicates links to Sun's Java website. These markers appear next to links to local copies of the same documents (which are broken links if you do not have the JDK documentation installed locally).

Features
Version 1.2 of the Java Development Kit offers significant improvements in functionality, performance, security and global support. See:

JDK Documentation
The JDK Documentation [web] contains release documentation, Java API specifications, developer guides, tool documentation, demos, and links to related documentation. It is available in a separate download bundle.

If you have not already downloaded your own local copy of the JDK Docs, you can do so from the JDK 1.2 download page.

System Requirements
The JDK 1.2 software is available on three platforms: On Solaris, Sun releases both a Reference Implementation and Production Release.

On all systems you should have 65 megabytes of free disk space before attempting to install the JDK software. If you also install the separate documentation download bundle, you need an additional 85 megabytes of free disk space.

JDK 1.2 is localized for Japanese. For more information, see Japanese localization notes.

Installation
The complete JDK is composed of the JDK Software plus the JDK Documentation, each of which is separately downloadable. Installation instructions for each release are maintained on the Java Software web site:

Refer to the COPYRIGHT and LICENSE for legal terms of use.

Demos

A demo directory is included in this software bundle with a variety of applets and Swing applications for you to try out. The demos come with complete source code.

Changes

See Changes and Release Notes for a summary of changes to the JDK since the previous release and other release notes. This file will be updated as needed, so users should check it form time to time.

Compatibility

See JDK Compatibility with Previous Releases, on the Java Software web site, for our list of known compatibility issues. Every effort has been made to support programs written for the 1.0 or 1.1 platform. Although some incompatible changes were necessary, most software should migrate to Java platform 1.2 with no reprogramming. Any failure to do so is considered a bug, except for a small number of cases where compatibility was deliberately broken, as described on our compatibility page. Some compatibility-breaking changes were required to close potential security holes or to fix implementation or design bugs.

Bug Reports and Feedback

The Bug Parade Web Page on the Java Developer Connection website lets you search for and examine existing bug reports, submit your own bug reports, and tell us which bug fixes matter most to you. To directly submit a bug or request a feature, fill out this form:
http://java.sun.com/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi
You can also send comments directly to Java Software engineering team email addresses.

Note - You should not seek technical support from Bug Parade or our development teams. For support options, see Support and Services on the Java Software web site.

Contents of the Java Development Kit
This section contains a general summary of the files and directories in the Java Development Kit. For specific descriptions, see JDK Software on Win32 Systems [web] or JDK Software on Solaris Systems [web].
Development Tools
(In the bin subdirectory.) Programs that will help you develop, execute, debug, and document programs written in the Java programming language. For further information, see the tool documentation [web].

Java Runtime Environment
(In the jre subdirectory.) An implementation of the Java 1.2 platform, including a Java virtual machine, class libraries, and other supporting files. These files support the execution of programs written in the Java programming language, including programs you develop, and those JDK development tools written in the Java programming language. For more information, see the Java Runtime Environment including Java Plug-in section below.

Additional libraries
(In the lib subdirectory.) Additional class libraries and support files required by the development tools.

Demo Applets and Applications
(In the demo subdirectory.) Examples, with source code, of programming for the Java platform. These include examples that use Swing and other Java Foundation Classes. For more details, see the demo directory.

C header Files
(In the include subdirectory.) Header files that support native-code programming using the Java Native Interface [web]. and the Java Virtual Machine Debugger Interface [web].

Old Native Interface Headers
(In the include-old subdirectory.) Header files that support native-code programming using older interfaces. The header files in include-old are provided only for backward-compatibility. These interfaces are deprecated, unsupported and not available on all Java virtual machines.

Source Code
(In src.jar archive file.) Java programming language source files for all classes that make up the Java 1.2 platform core API (that is, java.*, javax.* and org.omg.*, but not com.sun.*). This source code is provided for informational purposes only, to help developers learn and use the Java programming language. These files do not include platform-specific implementation code and cannot be used to rebuild the class libraries. To extract these file, use: 
    jar xvf src.jar

Do not modify core API source files. To extend the behavior of the core API, write subclasses of the core API classes.

For core API documentation, refer to the following sources:

  • The Java Platform API Specification [web]. This provides brief descriptions of the API with an emphasis on specifications, not on examples.

  • The Java Class Libraries, Second Edition, published by Addison-Wesley Longman as part of The Java Series. These volumes include much more elaborate descriptions, with definitions of terminology and examples for practically every class, interface and member.

Documentation
(In the docs subdirectory.) This directory is created when the JDK documentation is installed. It contains release documentation, Java API specifications, developer guides, tool documentation, demos, and links to related documentation.

The Java Runtime Environment including Java Plug-in
The Java Runtime Environment including Java Plug-in is a Sun product that is composed of two parts: The Java Runtime Environment and the Java Plug-in.

The Java Runtime Environment 1.2 (JRE) is the Java platform on which you can run, test and ship your own applications. It consists of the Java virtual machine, the Java platform core classes, and supporting files. It contains no development tools -- no compiler, debugger, or other tools. The JRE requires additional software -- the Java Plug-in -- to enable it to run applets in a browser.

The Java Plug-in software allows Java applets and JavaBeans components to run in a browser using Sun's Java Runtime Environment, instead of the browser's default Java runtime. The Java Plug-in works with Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer. For general information, see the Java Plug-in Overview. For documentation and FAQ on the Java Plug-in, see Java Plug-in.

The Java Runtime Environment including Java Plug-in is available from Sun on both Windows and Solaris:

Note that the JDK has its own internal, complete, non-redistributable Java runtime environment in the jre subdirectory. This is the runtime environment used by the JDK tools (javac, javadoc, appletviewer, and so forth).

Sun Java Web Pages
For additional information, refer to these Sun Microsystems pages on the World Wide Web:
http://java.sun.com/
The Java Software web site, with the latest information on Java technology, product information, news, and features.
http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/1.2/index.html
JDK 1.2 Product and Download Page
http://java.sun.com/docs
Java Platform Documentation provides access to white papers, the Java Tutorial and other documents.
http://developer.java.sun.com/
The Java Developer Connection web site. (Free registration required.) Additional technical information, news, and features; user forums; support information, and much more.
http://java.sun.com/products/
Java Technology Products & API
http://www.sun.com/solaris/java/
Java Development Kit for Solaris - Production Release

This Java Development Kit is a product of Java Software of Sun Microsystems(tm), Inc.

Copyright © 1997, 1998, Sun Microsystems, Inc.
901 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, California 94303-4900 USA.
All rights reserved.