Different Editions of Java Technology

Java is a vast programming language and various different editions are available in java technology. Below you will learn all the available Editions of Java Technology. Throughout reading this you will know what you can do with the help of java.

a) Java SE - Java SE or Java Standard Edition provides tools and API's that you can use to create server applications, desktop applications, and even applets. These programs developed using Java SE can be run on almost every popular operating system, including Linux, Macintosh, Solaris, and Windows.

b) J2EE - Based on the foundation framework of the standard edition, Java Enterprise Edition helps in web application service, component model and enterprise class service oriented architecture (SOA).   

c) J2ME - Java Micro Edition or JME for short is an accumulation of Java APIs that are used for the development of software for devices like mobile phones, PDAs, TV set-top boxes, game programming. The platform of micro edition generally consists of an easy user interface, a robust security model and a wide variety of built-in networks for running Java based application. 

Components of each edition
JSE Components

JavaBeans - It is the component architecture for J2SE platform and one can develop and assemble these software programs for better web application. It is a reusable software component that can be manipulated visually in a builder tool. This software assists visual builder tools in using reflection, introspection, and also analyze and customize JavaBeans. 

Java Foundation Classes (JFC) - It is a part of Java class libraries based on the Java platform used for developing graphical user interface (GUI). JFC helps in 2D graphics, imaging, text formatting and printing with the help of Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT), Swing and Java2D. With the help of input method framework, the JFC technology assists in preparing application that can be accessible to all users around the world in different languages. Drag and Drop is another feature of JFC that supports data transfers between different Java applications. 

JavaHelp - It is a platform independent and a feature oriented software system that offers developer an automated help component. JavaHelp 2.0 API is useful while building online documentation and presenting online information to the application users. 

Java Web Start - It is framework in the Java platform that assists in starting Application software directly from the internet by using a web browser. As we know Java applet can run in a browser but in case of Java Web Start, it doesn't run inside and solve many complex problems associated with Java plugins and JVM. It also provide many classes that in turn provides various services and allow better access to resources. Version 1.0 was introduced in the year 2001. Now with the release of J2SE 1.4, Java Web Start is included with Java Runtime Environment and does need any separate installation. 

Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) - JDBC API is a part of Java Standard Edition that helps in accessing data from a SQL based database. Besides, it also process the result and allows in using the programming language with "Write Once, Run Anywhere" feature. Some of its key features are like full access to metadata, no special installation and database identification. 

Java Media Framework (JMF) - Its an advanced API that allows Java developers to process and add audio-video source to Java application and applets. It is useful for multimedia developers to capture, playback, transcode different media formats.  

J2EE - Components:

Enterprise JavaBeans (EJB) - This technology is a server side component of Java platform  used for the construction of enterprise application. It is one of the Java APIs attached with the enterprise edition. By using Java technology, EJB helps in quick development of small, distributed, transactional and secure application. 

JavaMail - This JavaMail API technology allows to build mails and messaging application in a platform independent and protocol independent framework. It is both a part of JSE and JEE platform. Thus, JavaMail uses an extensible platform for transferring all kinds of Multimedia Internet Mail Extension (MIME). 

Java Message Service (JMS) - Developed under Java community process, JMS technology is used for sending messages between users. Basically, it  is an enterprising messaging tool used for building enterprising application. The JMS API is a combination of Java technology and enterprising messaging that provides facilities for building small message based application. It functions under two models: Point-to-Point and Publishing & Subscribing model. 

JavaServer Pages (JSP) - The JSP technology enables web developers in developing and maintaining web content pages in formats like HTML and XML. With the help of JSP, it becomes very easy to build server and platform independent web based application. This uses HTML and XML tags that offers logical solution for the content. This separately user interface and content development from each other, which allows the designer to change page layout without changing the content.

Java Servlets - This enables a developer in adding content to a web server by using Java platform. This provides the mechanism for enhancing the functionality of web server. In short, servlets provides platform independent and component based web based application without the performance limiting of CGI program. 

JME - Components: 

Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) - It is one of the configurations of Java Micro Edition. 'Configuration' describes minimal features of a complete Java. The CLDC specifies the capabilities of JVM, the base set of API for resource limited devices like pager and mobile phones. There are two version of CLDC: version 1.0 was released in 2000 and came to be known as Java Specification Request (JSR)30. Later version 1.1 or JSR 139 but 1.0 is more widely used. The Connected Limited Device Configuration and the Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) together provides solid Java platform for developing application to run on less processing power devices. 

Mobile Information Device Profile (MIDP) - This is another configuration of Java Micro Edition and coupled with CLDC, it provides a farm Java Runtime Environment for various mobile devices and other personal digital assistance (PDA). With the help of MIDP, developers can develop application once and then redistribute them into various mobile information devices in a very small period of time. Its principal functions include the user interface, network connectivity data storage and overall application process management. There are two versions of MIDP: one is MIDP 2.0 or JSR 118 and the second one is the MIDP 1.0 or JSR 37.  

Connected Device Configuration (CDC) - Developed under the Java Community Process (JCP), it is a standard framework of Java technology used for building and delivering application that can be shared in a wide range of networks and devices ranging from pagers, mobile phones, set top box and other PDA devices. It is in two versions: the JSR 36 (CDC 1.0) and the latest one is the JSR 218 (CDC 1.1).

Posted in: J2SE, Java