I'm completely new to Java but I have done some console programming using
C++. I've tried using Sun's j2sdk1.4.2 along with Notepad but when I open the
command window and enter the command to compile my program I always get
errors, like it can't find the path specified or this or that is not
recognized as an internal or external command. So that approach isn't working
too good.

Actually I would prefer to use a tool that will allow me to write my code in
the code editor window and also be able to click a Run or Compile button and
run my program from within the IDE. Now will Visual J# allow me to do that?
For now I'm pretty much just interested in writing console(non-GUI) programs.
Can I do that using Visual J#? I've also noticed that there are few if any
books that deal with Visual J#. Why is that?

One last question. If I use Visual J# will I be using the genuine Java
language, or has Microsoft changed it in any way? I hope the code I write
from my books will work with it.

"357mag" <357mag (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> wrote

Yes, of course.

This is my opionion: J# is the language of choice for those who have made an
investment they hope to slavage in Java but who are looking to make the move
to .Net . It is a much smaller group say than those who choose Java or .Net
outright.

The proper answer is heavily dependent on what you plan to do in the
language. If you write console applications and don't push the envelope, you
will probably be OK. But if the samples include recent additions to the Java
SDK, - like say support for asynchronous I/O - then you'll likely have
problems. That is not to say that the .Net doesn't have the support that
you'd need, just that it is not _like_ Java.

Regards,
Will

"357mag" <357mag (AT) discussions (DOT) microsoft.com> a écrit dans le message de news:
72F15B69-BCC1-4FA0-8ACC-9B65875F73B0...soft (DOT) com...
Yes.

Because J# is not mainstream Java (see below).

To summarize (and simplify a bit) things:

* J# is the same **language** as Java (without the latest extensions like
generics, etc.). J# has some .NET specific extensions (conditional
compilation, ubyte type, special @ comment directives, etc.) but you are not
forced to use them and you can still write genuine Java code with J#.

* The J# JDK corresponds to the SUN JDK 1.1.4, with some extensions borrowed
from more recent JDKs. So, it is an old JDK, and a lot of Java libraries
that you find today are based on more recent versions of the JDK. So,
although this is not always impossible, you won't be able to use these
libraries with J# "out of the box".

* The J# tools and runtime are completely separate from the Java tools and
runtime. J# does not create class or jar files; instead, it creates .NET
assemblies (dlls or exes) that are run by the .NET virtual machine.

So, if you want to program in Java rather than C# in the .NET environment,
J# is probably the right way to go.

But if all you want is a decent IDE to program in Java and you want your
programs to run in the Java VM rather than in the .NET VM, then you should
look elsewhere: Eclipse, J/Builder, etc.

Bruno