This tutorial uses single Java source files, i.e., not full projects. This means that you can use any text editor, such as Notepad on Windows, and you do not have to install a dedicated development environment, but it’s recommended to use an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) or a code editor with Java support. These tools provide features like syntax highlighting, code completion, and debugging, which can significantly enhance your coding experience.
The videos in this tutorial are created with Visual Studio Code (VSC), though others will work just as well. VSC is a lightweight free Integrated Development Environment (IDE) that can be extended with plugins for various programming languages and other use cases. You can download it from Visual Studio Code by Microsoft.
Once the program is installed, add extensions for Java support:
- Open Visual Studio Code.
- In the left menu, go to “Extensions.”
- Search for “language support for java.”
- Select “Language Support for Java(TM) by Red Hat” and click “Install.”
Other IDEs
There are many more IDEs you can use. These are some of the most frequently used for Java development:
- IntelliJ IDEA by JetBrains. Available as free Community Edition and commercial Ultimate Edition, and probably the most used development environment in the Java community.
- Apache NetBeans. 100% free and open source, with a long history, and developed by volunteers with all source code on GitHub managed by the Apache Software Foundation.
- Eclipse IDE. Popular development environment with a long history and widely used.
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