Enlighten me..

[CP]

I understand than when programming in C you need a developer like Kdevelop. You can then compile it. Perl uses the perl interpreter, python and ruby do the same. How do I use Java. I am doing a Java programming course next year and would like a head start. What do I need to get to be able to program in Java?
Secondly, does anyone have some simple programs I could pull apart, or a decent tutorial?
Thanks
CP

http://www.blackdown.org/java-linux/mirrors.html

download the blackdown java version from one of these mirrors, i've been using it for a couple of months now and it works great.
the reason why i'm using blackdown's java instead of sun's java is because i heard the blackdown java is faster.

the only thing u still need after u downloaded blackdown java is <insert favourite editor here>

so imagine u start working on a java source code file. *u named it First.java. *to compile it type: javac First.java
then, when u want to run it, type: java First
notice that i didn't use a file extension there, just use the name of the file without it's extension when u wanna run a java app u wrote