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3.10  What's the difference between Java and Javascript, anyway?

   The  following is based on a text by Mike Weaver, who gave me permission
to reprint it in the FAQ.  There are small changes from the original.

   "One  of  Java's  best  features  is  its portability.  Java is platform
independent,  which  means  that if you learn it on a MAC, you will have no
problem  at  all applying it to a PC...the language should be the same.  In
fact,  you  should  be  able  to  take  the source code for the classes and
applets  you  write  on  your mac and compile them on a PC...or vice versa.

   "When  you write an applet for the web, the code gets compiled into Java
bytecode.   This bytecode is run by a Java virtual machine (which is either
a  separate  program  or part of your browser).  Basically, this means that
once  you embed the applet on a web page, anybody with any system (Mac, PC,
Unix,  Amiga,  etc)  can run the applet as long as they have a browser that
supports  Java.   There  are  some exceptions to this -- sometimes, certain
manufacturers  will  add  all  sorts of platform specific extensions to the
language  that  will  only  work on certain operating systems.  But for the
most  part,  the  compilers  are  pretty  good  about sticking to the whole
portability thing.  You should have no problem at all.

   "Java  and  JavaScript  are  totally  different animals.  Java is a full
blown  programming  language  that  you  can  use  to  create  stand  alone
applications  or  applets.   Java  will give you compiled bytecode (a "Java
class"  or  "Java  applet")  that  you  can embed in a web page just like a
picture.   Javascript  it not compiled.  You mix it right in with the HTML.
Java  would be used for highly interactive things such as putting an arcade
style  game on the web.  Javascript, however, would be used more to enhance
the  functionality  of a web page as you can attach bits of code to various
objects on your page.  That's a pretty quick and dirty explanation."

   For more information about Java, visit http://www.javasoft.com  .
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