One of the first two real Java applications was a web browser. Java was originally aimed at proprietary cable television networks rather than the Internet, but it’s always had the network foremost in mind. Java was the first programming language designed from the ground up for network applications. Schedule applications like Microsoft Outlook automatically synchronize calendars among employees in a company. The server uploads its daily receipts to the chain’s central computers each night. Supermarket cash registers running IBM SurePOS ACE communicate with their store’s server in real time with each transaction. Gamers playing multiplayer first-person shooters like Halo gleefully frag each other in real time. Music players like Winamp and iTunes upload CD track lengths to CDDB and download the corresponding track titles. Word processors like Microsoft Word open files from URLs.Īntivirus programs like Norton AntiVirus check for new virus definitions by connecting to the vendor’s website every time the computer is started. IDEs like Eclipse and IntelliJ IDEA communicate with source code repositories like GitHub and Sourceforge. Text editors like BBEdit save and open files directly from FTP servers.

Java control panel shows skype logo