JAVA programming language handbook

Why has Java taken over so quickly? The short answer is found in its platform independence and potential to turn the Web into a much more dynamic and interactive environment—something that is badly needed. Other reasons are because of Java's similarity to C++ and its support of popular object-oriented programming techniques, making it easier for hundreds of thousands of C and C++ programmers to quickly master Java’s powerful features. Our goal in this chapter is to set the stage for Java, exploring where this language has come from and where it is going. We'll introduce the key features of Java, give you some insight into why Java was developed in the first place, and examine some of the key similarities between Java and C++. We think it is important to spend as much time as possible looking at Java through the lenses of a C++ programmer because the syntax and object-oriented features are very similar.