Get Ready to Code: Writing Your First Java Program
You’ve taken the first step by installing Java on your computer. Now, it’s time to bring your coding journey to life with a simple Java program that displays “Hello, World!” on the screen.
Why “Hello, World!”?
This iconic program is more than just a friendly greeting. It’s a fundamental building block that introduces you to the basic syntax of a programming language, helping you grasp the structure before diving deeper. Don’t worry if you don’t fully understand how it works just yet – we’ll break it down in upcoming tutorials.
Write, Run, and Celebrate!
For now, simply write the program and run it. Congratulations are in order – you’ve just written your first Java program!
Decoding the Magic
Let’s dissect the code and explore how it works. Take a closer look at this line:
System.out.println("Hello, World!");
Here’s what you need to remember about printf:
- Enclose what you want to print within parentheses
(). - Wrap the text in double quotes
"". -
End each
System.out.println()statement with a semicolon;.Failure to follow these rules will result in errors, so make sure to get it right!
The Anatomy of a Java Program
As we’ve seen, even a simple program requires several lines of code. Don’t worry – every Java program we write will follow this basic structure:
{... }
We’ll fill in the blanks with our code, and soon you’ll be writing like a pro! Next up, we’ll explore the world of Java comments.