Java is an object-oriented, platform independent programming language developed by Sun. It shares many superficial similarities with C, C++, and Objective C, but it is not based on any of those languages, nor have efforts been made to make it compatible with them. Java was designed from the ground up to allow for secure execution of code across a network.
See  The Java Language: An Overview ,  comp.lang.java FAQ or  Making Sense of Java for a raw overview of Java.

Java Development Kits and Runtime Environments
	JDK for Solaris, Linux and Windows (from Sun)
	Java Software on Software Distribution Server (zamsoft)
	List of Java Platform Ports (Java Programming Resources)

free
	Eclipse
	Netbeans
	Jedit (small&fast IDE written in Java)
	Jde (Emacs Environment for Java)

Java Reference Documentation
	Java Platform, Standard Edition 6 API Specification
	The Java Language Specification
	Java Programmers FAQ
	List of FAQs

german
	Vortragsfolien
	Guido Krüger - Handbuch der Java-Programmierung,   (lokale Kopie)
	Java ist auch eine Insel
	Friedrich Esser - Java 2
	Java in 21 Tagen (für Anfänger)
	Java Einführung - Kursunterlagen
	Guido Krüger - JAVA 1.1 lernen

english
	The Java Tutorial from Sun ,   (local mirror)
	Java Tutorial & Short Courses from Sun
	Thinking in Java (good and extensive book),   (local mirror)
	Java Code Conventions

Applications and Applets
	Gamelan (very large archive)
	Java Boutique
	Example Applets and Classes

Resource Pages
	Java Developer Connection
	Java Lobby

Magazines and News
	Javaworld Magazine
	About.com:Java (news and resources)

Java Example Applets
	Fourier Synthesis
	Iceblock Game

Contact

A.Visser@fz-juelich.de