1. Introduction

1.1 What is Java ?

Since Java [2] is established, we are able to generate executable code, which runs on many platforms. This independence is achieved by the Java virtual Machine (JVM) which is implemented for each platform. A Java executable, so called Applet or Application is compiled into the Java-Bytecode format and runs on the JVM. Because the JVM simulates a complete operation-system and executes Java-Bytecode, Java source- and Bytecode is very high portable with no need for recompilation. Java Programs are written once and runs everywhere.

1.2 What Is A Development Environment ?

To produce software, we need many well known tools. E.g.:

1.

editor

2.

revision control system

3.

compiler

4.

linker

5.

debugger

6.

profiler

7.

lex & yacc

8.

L^ATEX [6]

9.

L^ATEX 2Html[7]

Each tool is a program which can be invoked at the command line, and each tool can have a GUI, e.g. the editor, or can not have a GUI, e.g. the compiler. These Tools can be configurated and invokated manually.

All these tools, their configuration and invocation is the development environment (DE). The operating system (OS), e.g. Unix, is also a part of the DE, because the command line (shell), e.g. bash, and it´s configuration configures those tools either.

Nowadays software companys offers integrated development environments (IDE). The IDE contains all needed tools, which can be invocated and configurated by the IDE. The IDE usually uses a GUI and should be able to combine all needed tools in a convienient way. The problem of most IDE´s is their incompatibility. Some IDE´s create proprietaery makefile-scripts, some contains kind of functionality which are not portable to other OS´s.

1.3 A development Environment for Java

Because Java is avaiable for many platforms, i asked myself what kind of environment is usefull for Java. A Java environment is distributed within the JDK (see section 3.1, page ). The goal of this paper is to lookout for tools, to create a Unix like development environment (see section 2, page ). Because the Unix environment is well known and much portable, it can be very easy and convinience for developers to use the known environment for Java on their platform too.

1.4 What is the Jau-Package ?

The Jau-Package is a toolkit to support java developers with many convinient features. This package is introduced here as an example project which uses a standard development environment.