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Downloading the Java Development Kit In order to write Java programs, you'll need either the Java Development Kit (provided free by Sun Microsystems) or an IDE (Integrated Development Environment), which can be obtained from a number of vendors. For beginners, I recommend the JDK, which is extremely easy to use. Although an IDE is a very useful tool for a professional programmer, it takes time to master and often proves to be a distraction for a beginner. There are five versions of the JDK (1.0, 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, and 1.4). Version 1.5 will be released in 2004. Versions prior to 1.3 are now considered obsolete, although they can still be downloaded from Sun's web site. The programs in Java Programming: From the Beginning are compatible with JDK 1.1 and later versions. If download time is not a problem, download the most recent version of the JDK. For a smaller download, consider version 1.1 (approximately 10MB) or 1.2 (around 20 MB). The JDK 1.3 and 1.4 downloads are over 35 MB. Below are links to Sun's web site, from which the different versions of the JDK can be downloaded. I've also provided links to the on-line documentation for the current versions of the Java API. The documentation can also be downloaded, which is advisable unless you have a high-speed link to the Internet. Note: Starting with version 1.2, JDK 1.x is officially known as the Java 2 Software Development Kit, Standard Edition 1.x. Java 2 Software Development Kit, Standard Edition 1.4 (JDK 1.4) Download Browse the API documentation Java 2 Software Development Kit, Standard Edition 1.3 (JDK 1.3) Download Browse the API documentation Older versions of the JDK/SDK can be found in the Downloads Archive.