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There are several components that make up the Java ecosystem, including the Java Development Kit (JDK), the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), and the Java Virtual Machine (JVM). In this note, we’ll take a closer look at each of these components and their role in the Java ecosystem.
Java Development Kit (JDK)
The Java Development Kit (JDK) is a software development kit used to develop Java applications. It includes a set of tools that are required for developing, debugging, and testing Java applications. The JDK includes the Java Runtime Environment (JRE), the Java compiler, and other development tools.
Here is a table that summarizes the components of the JDK:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Java Runtime Environment (JRE) | The environment in which Java programs run. |
| Java compiler | A tool used to compile Java source code into bytecode. |
| Debugger | A tool used to debug Java programs. |
| JavaFX SDK | A software development kit used to develop JavaFX applications. |
| Appletviewer | A tool used to run and debug Java applets. |
Java Runtime Environment (JRE)
The Java Runtime Environment (JRE) is the environment in which Java programs run. It includes the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) and the Java class libraries. The JRE is required to run Java applications on a computer.
Here is a chart that shows the relationship between the JDK, JRE, and JVM:
+------------------------------------------------+
| JDK |
+------------------------------------------------+
| |
| |
| +-------------------------------------+ |
| | JRE | |
| +-------------------------------------+ |
| | | |
| | +--------------------------+ | |
| | | JVM | | |
| | +--------------------------+ | |
| | | | | |
| | | Java class libraries | | |
| | | | | |
| | +--------------------------+ | |
| | | |
| +-------------------------------------+ |
| |
| |
+------------------------------------------------+
Java Virtual Machine (JVM)
The Java Virtual Machine (JVM) is a virtual machine that runs Java bytecode. It is the runtime environment for Java applications. The JVM is responsible for executing Java bytecode and providing a secure and portable environment for Java applications to run in.
Here is a table that summarizes the components of the JVM:
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Class loader | A component responsible for loading Java classes into memory. |
| Bytecode verifier | A component responsible for verifying Java bytecode to ensure that it is safe to execute. |
| Execution engine | A component responsible for executing Java bytecode. |
| Runtime data area | The area of memory used by the JVM to store data at runtime. |
| Native method interface | A mechanism that allows Java code to call native methods written in other programming languages. |
Also, see the example code JavaExamples_NoteArena in our GitHub repository. See complete examples in our GitHub repositories.
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