Java, on the other hand, can be used to build applications that can be run within the environment of your user's browser. Java-capable browsers are available for most platforms, so your Java applets will allow you to present your pages in all their glory to all users regardless of their browser, host software, or hardware. This will ensure the widest possible audience for your efforts.
We must assume here that you either have knowledge of Java applets and JavaScript, or else you have access to someone else with the knowledge-a colleague, for example. There are a number of good books on the market to assist you in learning Java (see the "References" section at the end of this chapter). Bluestone also offers Java classes.
Java code is held in files with the extension .java and precompiled into byte-code files with the extension .class by the Java compiler. We will not go into the creation of Java applets here, as we assume that you have all the necessary pre-created and compiled classes. All the applets that we use here will be available to you in both .java and .class form in the Sapphire/Web distribution.