Java without JPad
A guide for writing, compiling, and running Java code on Windows without JPad.
Can I really program in Java without JPad?
Yes, yes, yes! You can definitely code in Java without JPad. JPad is an integrated development environment that allows you to compile and run your code without ever leaving your editor. That doesn't mean it is the best or the only way to do things.
Getting Ready
Command Prompt
In order to code in Java we will need to open two windows. The first is a command prompt and can be opened by clicking on Start->Run and typing cmd. I am going to be editing code in f:\javaprog so I would type these commands into the command prompt window:
f: cd javaprog
The Editor
The second is our editor. For this example we will use gVim. gVim is one of the most powerful programming editors out there but it can be a little intimidating. If you would like to learn the basics, take a look at our beginning vim document. If you don't have the time to learn about Vim and would just like to use it, save this file as f:\.vimrc. gVim can be started by clicking on Start->Programs->Editors->gVim. I would then click on File->Open and move to f:\javaprog and create a file called Hello.java.
Compiling and Running Code
Once I finish writing Hello.java, I can compile it by typing javac Hello.java in the command prompt window. If there are no errors, I can run it by typing java Hello. This process is very similar to what you would do on Linux.
