This chapter is your introduction to targeting the Java Virtual Machine (VM) with the CodeWarrior® IDE. It includes the following topics:
Before using CodeWarrior tools for Java development, read the release notes. The release notes contain important information about any late-breaking changes.
If you are new to using CodeWarrior tools to develop Java software, or are new to CodeWarrior tools in general, we strongly recommend that you read this chapter carefully. This chapter gives a high-level overview of using the CodeWarrior environment to do Java development.
This manual covers several CodeWarrior Java products. Some features may not be available in your particular CodeWarrior Java product. Wherever possible, features specific to one or more CodeWarrior Java products are marked accordingly. For example, CodeWarrior features that only apply to CodeWarrior PersonalJava Platform Edition are followed by "(PersonalJava)" to signify that the feature is only available in that product.
This manual assumes you have a working knowledge of your operating system and its conventions, including how to use a mouse and standard menus and commands, and how to open, save, and close files. For help with any of these techniques, see the documentation that came with your operating system.
The following sections describe the different conventions used in this manual:
This manual uses some style conventions to make it easier to read and find specific information:
If you see text that appears in a different typeface (as the word different does in this sentence), you are reading file or folder names,
source code, keyboard input, or programming items.
Text formatted like this means that the text refers to an item on the screen, such as
a menu command or control in a dialog box.
If you are using an on-line viewing application that supports hypertext navigation, such as Adobe Acrobat®, you can click on underlined and colored text to view another topic or related information. For example, clicking the text "What is in This Book" in Adobe Acrobat takes you to a section that gives you an overview of the entire Targeting the Java VM manual.
The CodeWarrior IDE runs on the host platforms and operating systems listed in Table 1.1. Throughout this manual, a generic platform identifier is used to identify the host platform, regardless of operating system.
The visual interface of the hosts listed in "Host Conventions" is nearly identical in all significant respects. When discussing a particular interface element such as a dialog box or window, the screen shot may come from any of these hosts. You should have no difficulty understanding the picture, even if you are using the CodeWarrior IDE on a different host than the one shown.
However, there are occasions when dialog boxes or windows are unique to a particular host. For example, a particular dialog box may appear dramatically different on a Windows host and on a Macintosh host. In that case, a screen shot from each unique host is illustrated and clearly identified so that you can see how the CodeWarrior IDE works on your host.
The default keyboard shortcuts for the CodeWarrior IDE on some platforms are very similar. However, keyboards and shortcuts do vary across host platforms. For example, a typical keyboard for a Windows machine has an Alt key, but that same key is called the Option key on a typical keyboard for a Macintosh computer.
To handle these kinds of situations, our documentation identifies and uses the following paired terms in the text:
). In most cases, the IDE maps these keys the same way.
For example, you may encounter instructions such as "Press Enter/Return to proceed," or "Alt/Option click the Function pop-up menu to see the functions in alphabetical order." Use the appropriate key as it is labeled on your keyboard.
Some combinations of key strokes require multiple modifier keys. In those cases, key combinations are shown connected with hyphens. For example, if you read "Shift-Alt/Option-Enter/Return," you would press the Shift, Alt, and Enter keys on a Windows host and the Shift, Option, and Return keys on a Mac OS host.
Sometimes the cross-platform variation in keyboard shortcuts is more complex. In those cases, you will see more detailed instructions on how to use a keyboard shortcut for your host platform. In all cases the host and shortcut will be clearly identified.
The Solaris-hosted CodeWarrior IDE uses the same modifier key names as used for Mac OS (Shift, Command, Option, and Control). Likewise, the Key Bindings preference panel uses Mac OS symbols to represent modifier keys. The Default CodeWarrior Key Bindings appendix in the CodeWarrior IDE User Guide shows the default modifier key mappings and the symbols used to represent them. On Solaris systems, modifier keys can be mapped to any key on the keyboard. See the Keyboard Preferences Dialog Box appendix in the CodeWarrior IDE User Guide for the default key mappings. When reading this manual, you will need to keep in mind these modifier key mappings.
Following are the changes in this version of CodeWarrior for Java:
RunJava.exe. The RunJava.exe application is now located by using the location of the currently-running
IDE, and looking for the (Helper Apps) folder relative to that.
The table below gives a general description of this manual's contents.
| Chapter |
Description |
|---|---|
The information in this manual is, for the most part, specific to either the Java language or the Java virtual machine as a platform target. This manual does not cover basic features of the CodeWarrior IDE, but only Java-specific information.
You do not have to read the chapters in this manual sequentially. Use this manual as a reference to learn about using CodeWarrior tools to program in Java, or to answer questions you encounter as you develop Java code.
You will find all the manuals mentioned in this section on the CodeWarrior CD.
This manual does not teach Java syntax, nor does it introduce you to the classes and methods in the Java API - the calls you use to program the Java virtual machine.
http://developer.java.sun.com/developer/onlineTraining/new2java/
The Java Language Tutorial is available directly from Sun Microsystems at:
http://java.sun.com/docs/books/tutorial/
To learn more about the Java API, consult the Java Standard Edition Platform Documentation, web page found on the Sun Microsystems web site:
For information about Sun's Java Development Kit (JDK), including the differences between JDK versions, refer to the Java and JDK FAQ on Sun's web site:
http://java.sun.com/products/jdk/faq.html
The CodeWarrior Reference CD contains an electronic copy of Learn Java on the Macintosh (Addison Wesley) by Barry Boone. Learn Java on the Macintosh starts off with some object programming basics, then introduces you to programming in Java. Your CodeWarrior package also comes with some Java-related Apple Guide files. CodeWarrior University from Metrowerks can teach you how to program in Java for free. You can learn more about CodeWarrior University:
There are also many third party books on Java programming. Check your local bookstore or favorite online bookstore for a wide selection.