In this article we've interviewed Joe, our central scrutiniser, so that he might explain to us in simple terms what this 'Java thing' is all about. We'd grown sick of hearing people bring up the term constantly. With a kind of hushed reverence too. Sheesh! The only Java we'd known came roasted and brewed into a cup. Now, Joe is one of those new-fangled Web robots located at a secret http:// address. He's been installed with the latest, cutting-edge artificial intelligence, deliberately de-programmed not to snigger at the technologically ignorant. Joe? Here's my first question...

What is this Java thing?
[Buffering 98% - a patient, semi-llic voice responds] Java is first and foremost a computer programming language that was conceived as far back as the 1970's (it was then called Oak) by a team of American programmers. It is now owned by Sun Microsystems. Anybody can download the tools and develop Java programs. There are also many ready-made Java objects, both free and commercial that you can use. The language was designed from the ground up to allow the secure execution of computer code across networks. Another feature of its architecture is that it can run on many operating systems. 'Design once, run anywhere' has been Sun's long-standing marketing slogan.

So what's that got to do with the Web?
Java was originally used as an operating system in television set-op boxes. When the Web came along in the 1990's the language came to prominence when the technology was integrated into the Netscape Web browser. It offered the exact features needed to allow users to download and securely run programs from the Web. It also functioned on just about any operating system. These days all major web browsers have the ability to run Java programs, which are also more commonly known as Java applets.

Cool, cappuccino crowd name. Is that all?
[Polite laugh] Yep, Web browsers run Java applets. Applets are small code objects that can be retrieved from the remote server in seconds. These do not execute in your computer's memory, but rather through a Java interpreter. It is therefore secure to have Java turned on in your browser program. The applets cannot harm your computer. Does this answer your question?

No not really, is Java as 'cool' as it sounds?
Oh, right. Java applets are indeed cool. Java allows the programmer to draw images and text in a multitude of ways. The nice thing is that it can fit seamlessly into the page layout. An applet can for example scroll, blink, flash, fade - in simple terms, it can animate an otherwise static web page. It is also able to provide time functions and calculations. I'm sure you've seen examples of this on the Web. Stock tickers, headline scrollers, calculators, rotating images and so on.

I see. Not cool. I hate blinking and animation. Makes my eyelids twitch.
[There is a slight delay - Joe is obviously taking time to compute my erratic grammar] Java allows the content developer/programmer to add virtually any arbitrary data to the Web page. It can for instance stream compressed audio over the Internet without the need for a helper application. Applets can even stream video!

Hmm, Multimedia? I'm interested in this
[Buffering 100% - Joe's sounds enthused too] Virtually any type of program that does not require saving data to the user's computer can be programmed in Java and run as an applet. One can therefore create complex educational puzzles and games. I personally like doing Java crossword puzzles and playing arcade games. These help me improve my tactile skills; you get to practice again and again until you're competent. You should try it!

[Joe is on a roll] Java also has more serious uses. It can be used to provide interaction between the user and business applications, such as in online banking. Real estate web sites can use Java to display virtual reality
Don't forget that Java was designed for small appliances. The advent of the Internet-enabled home is imminent. In future, using Java via the Net, you'll be able to regulate your home air-conditioning system from your office computer, or check your fridge contents. You'll know whether you need to drop by the supermarket before driving home.

Oh and before I forget - Java facilitates network performance. Busy servers experience less strain serving Java applets since the technology offloads some of its processing calculations to a user's computer, thereby lightening the load. Do you want me to go on?

That's intriguing Joe, but tell me - are there any downsides to Java?
[Buffering 98% - A pause, as he accesses the terabyte-sized word library] There is always a shadow near the light, though in the case of Java it is not a big one. The architecture is reasonably processor-intensive. Java can take away resources from your computer, making it perform more slowly when an applet is active. This is however not a big problem with today's powerful desktop machines. One other little tick that Java has, is that it turns the applet area in the browser window grey as it loads. Not so aesthetically pleasing! Some browsers execute Java faster than others. For example, Internet Explorer loads Java applets twice as fast as Netscape. Am I boring you?

Uhm, yeah. What's the difference between Java and Javascript?
[Buffering 100% - Joe's voice retrains] Good question. JavaScript really has little to do with the Java that we have been talking about. Unlike an applet, which is a small program that you download and execute, JavaScript is a language that can be inserted directly into the HTML markup of a page to provide an array of enhancing functions, such as hovering buttons or spawning custom windows.

Are there any resources and examples of Java on the Web that you can recommend?
[Buffering 100% - typewriter sounds from another age] Sure. Try these:

Java Sites
www.realapplets.com,
www.javaboutique.internet.com
http://java.sun.com