Introduction to Java and Programming Languages

20 question-and-answer flashcards reviewing Java’s features, applications, and the history of major programming languages.

Which company originally developed Java, and who owns it now?

Java was developed by Sun Microsystems and is now owned by Oracle.

On what date was the first version of Java released?

May 23, 1995.

What are the five main advantages that have driven Java’s popularity?

1) Cost (free), 2) Platform independence, 3) Versatility, 4) Object-oriented design, 5) Simple language syntax.

Why is Java considered a low-cost programming language?

It is completely free to download, use, and distribute, unlike many languages that cost hundreds or thousands of dollars.

What does it mean that Java is “platform independent”?

A Java program can run on almost any computer without separate Mac or Windows versions.

Name three broad categories of applications that can be built with Java.

Console applications, graphical user interface (GUI) applications, and web-embedded applets.

Which Java feature allows large programs to be built and modified easily through reusable pieces?

Its object-oriented design.

How does Java’s simplicity support its platform independence?

By keeping the language streamlined, it avoids platform-specific features, helping the same code run on any computer.

Which mobile operating system relies heavily on Java for app development?

Android OS.

Identify two big-data frameworks that are built using Java.

Apache Hadoop and Apache Spark.

Which major e-commerce company uses Java in its backend infrastructure?

Amazon.

Give two examples of how Java is used in the finance and trading sectors.

Transaction processing systems in banks and high-frequency trading platforms.

Which programming language, created in the early 1950s for scientific work, is still in use today?

FORTRAN (FORmula TRANslator).

What business-oriented language emerged in the late 1950s?

COBOL (Common Business Oriented Language).

Who created BASIC and for what purpose?

Two Dartmouth College professors in the 1960s, so that everyday people could learn programming.

In what year and at which lab was the C programming language developed?

1972 at AT&T Bell Labs.

What enhancement turned C into C++, and when did this occur?

The addition of object-oriented capabilities in 1986, also at Bell Labs.

What is a Java applet?

A small GUI application embedded in a web page, using menus, buttons, and mouse input to make pages dynamic.

How is Java utilized in cloud computing?

Cloud providers such as AWS employ Java to build and run infrastructure and services.

In which field is Java used to control and manage physical machines such as robots?

Robotics.