Creating Your First Java Program

Save the File

Microsoft product screen shot(s) reprinted with permission from Microsoft Corporation.

Save your program file as "HelloWorld.java". I’ve created a directory in My Documents called "Java" to store all the example Java programs in one place. It makes it easy for me to find them when I need them. You might consider creating a similar directory on your computer.

It’s very important that you save the text file as "HelloWorld.java". Java is a little bit picky about filenames. If you look at the code you will see the statement:

class HelloWorld{

It’s an instruction to call the class "HelloWorld". The filename must match this class name, hence the name "HelloWorld.java". The extension of ".java" tells the computer that it’s a Java code file.

• Introduction
• Write the Java Source Code
• Save the File
• Open a Terminal Window
• The Java Compiler
• Change the Directory
• Compile Your Program
• Run the Program
• Let’s Go Through That Again