!! Overwhelmed by Java jargon!!!!

[Sandy Shaffer]

I'm a total Java noob and I'm honestly trying to figure it all out, but it's hard when there are about 23,194 Java related buzzwords/jargon/acronyms/etc.

bean
javabeans
jni
jfc
awt
swt
swing
jface


Do any of you know of some sort of good guide to the thousands of confusing terms of java?

[David Harkness]

I'd start with the source: java.sun.com. Next I'd hit up Google: www.google.com.

And we don't take kindly to exaggerators around the ranch. There are only 23,192 Java-related buzzwords, thank-you-very-much!

[Steven Bell]

For just learning I would ignore the whole list you have there except for bean, which is real easy. A bean is any Java class that has a default constructor and a getter/setter for each 'property' such as:

public class Name{
  private String first;
  private String middle;
  private String last;
 
  //this default constructor, notice no parameters
  //it doesn't have to do anything, although you could initialze the Strings
  public Name(){
  }
 
  //and getter/setter pairs for each property
  //it is allowed to have only a getter for read only props.
  public String getFirst(){
    return first;
  }
  public void setFirst(String f){
    first = f;
  }
 
  public String getMiddle(){
    return middle;
  }
  public void setMiddle(String m){
    middle = m;
  }
 
  //ect...
}

Other than that I would just look at the language constructs, maybe Swing if you feel up to GUI's. Just think of what you want to accomplish and then find the things you need to use to do that. I would venture to say that few if any people, even here, can comfortably use all the various Java acronyms. It would be better to say, 'I want to get data from a database' or some other such thing, and then ask what you can use to accomplish that.

[Sandy Shaffer]

ah thanks steven. but what's the point of saying "bean"? doesn't just about any useful class have a default contructor and getter/setter? is there any reason I shouldn't just say "class"? do most people use "bean" and "class" interchangeably in talking about java?

[Steven Bell]

Most data classes have a default constructor and getters and setters. There are many 'business logic' type classes that may or may not. Generally the term 'bean' is used when you require that the class fit that description, for example hibernate, a database framework, requires (for the most part) that the classes you tell it to write to a database conform to bean standards.

On the other hand some people will use 'bean' to mean 'Enterprise Java Bean', or EJB. If you ever think you want to learn EJB's slap yourself really hard and immediately seek psychiatric help.

[Ernest Friedman-Hill]

Roedy Green's Java and Internet Glossary is a fabulous resource for looking up acronyms and buzzwords. It's regularly updated and chock-ful of mostly reliable information.
[ January 31, 2005: Message edited by: Ernest Friedman-Hill ]

[Mike Gershman]

I rely on the wikipedia, which has lots of in-depth articles and useful links
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

[Layne Lund]

Originally posted by Sandy Shaffer:
ah thanks steven. but what's the point of saying "bean"? doesn't just about any useful class have a default contructor and getter/setter? is there any reason I shouldn't just say "class"? do most people use "bean" and "class" interchangeably in talking about java?

No, in fact in my day-to-day Java programming, I typically avoid getters and setters. I also quite often don't use a default constructor if I there are no obvious default values for the member fields.

Layne

[marc weber]

Originally posted by David Harkness:
... There are only 23,192 Java-related buzzwords...

I see only 23,191. Are you counting "varargs" more than once?

[Stan James]

But what does "bean" stand for? Beginners Enduring Acronym Nausea?

[Sandy Shaffer]

hehe right.

well thanks for the help, but here's a new questions I can't find the answer to:

I found that J2ME is "not a JVM", just a "catch-all for mobile java technologies. But what are the most common J2ME implementations used today? I mean what would I want to use if I want to reach the vast majority of users with J2ME-type devices?

[Steven Bell]

To the best of my knowledge there is MIDP and CLDC, I think. That is about the extent of my J2ME knowledge.

[Ilja Preuss]

Originally posted by Stan James:
But what does "bean" stand for?

For tiny, brown things that you make coffee from. No joking, that's it!

[Stephen Huey]

Originally posted by Stan James:
But what does "bean" stand for? Beginners Enduring Acronym Nausea?

Not to insult your intelligence, but in case you still didn't get it, I'd like to remind you what the language's name comes from, and why you always see a coffee cup for the Java logo!

It looks like you registered years ago--didn't get around to studying Java until now?

[David Harkness]

"Stan James ... Posts: 2750 | Registered: Jan 2003"

I think it's safe to say that Stan was continuing the jokes. Not to imply anyone's complete lack of humor, but "Beginners Enduring Acronym Nausea" is pretty darn funny.

Seriously though, as to the J2ME question, I believe it's really just a subset of packages that you can expect on micro devices (phones, PDAs, smart cards, toasters, rings, and smart toenail clippers [well, the others are real]). I'd ercommend reading the details on Sun's site to get a really good answer as to which APIs those include.

Of the top of my head I think some are

JBA - Java Button API

JRMA - Java Return Merchandise Authorization

CopperTop4J - methods for reading battery levels

[Carl Trusiak]

If you are just starting, don't get caught up by all the terms flying around. Start at the beginning and as you need to know something it's easy to lookup.

I personnally like the Java Tutorials

[Axel Janssen]

for my ears "buzzwords" is a term with a negative conotation.
Those are just identifier for certain fields of knowledge with more or less cohesive motivation. Example: JDBC is api to access RDB.. sorry Relational Databases. No reason to get angry about.