Description:

The J2SE(TM) Development Kit (JDK) resides at the core of all things Java®. The Java Runtime Environment (JRE), included with the JDK, enables Java programs to execute. Because most operating systems support a JRE, Java programs can run on almost any operating system. While every Java developer relies on the JDK for compiling and debugging programs, it is the near platform independence of the JRE that makes Java so useful.

Note that Sun's versioning of the JDK differs for development (1.6.0.x) and official public release (6x). OpenLogic uses the official public release numbering for distributions and reference in the library. This numbering scheme begins with the 1.5/5 version and does not apply to 1.4.x and prior.

Usage Notes:

The JDK is the core tool for developing applications with Java. It provides many essentials for Java development, including a compiler.