How do I start the Java Virtual Machine

OK - I am a newbie and I'm following "Head First Java". So I installed JDK 1.5 and added the bin directory to the path etc. I can compile my first piece of code (which, btw, is an example in the book called Party). The instructions in the book say to type the code, compile it and then run on the JVM. OK, code is compiled but no idea how to run on the JVM. The diagram in the book seems to indicate that the JVM should run the Party.class code if I type "java Party" at a command line prompt (I'm using Windows), but when I do that, all I get is "Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoClassDefFoundError: Party". I'm running the command from the directory in which my class file is located. What am I doing wrong?
[ August 16, 2005: Message edited by: Rita Chakras ]

Have you compiled it?

For instance if we use the following code:

public class Party {
public static void main( String[] args ) {
System.out.println("Hello world!");
}
}

save it in a file named Party.java
compile it with the statement

>> javac Party.java

this should create a file named Party.class in
the same directory then run it with

>> java Party

// Lee

You must config CLASSPATH.if CLASSPATH is not exist,create it!
[ August 16, 2005: Message edited by: Eideo Guo ]

Sorry a bit quick to read your post there...
as the above post states set the classpath
with:

>> java -classpath <directory path> Party

or run it from the same directory...

I'm going to avoid another topic since my problem is also the same thing.

OK now that I downloaded Download JDK 5.0 Update 4 the book (Head First Java) and change my path to "C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.5.0_04\bin", I don't think anything is working for me. Btw I did a search and javac is there. Here's what I typed on Notepad as the book stated:
import java.awt.*;
import java.awt.event.*;
class Party{
public void buildInvite(){
Frame f = new Frame();
Label l = new Label("Party at Reynald's");
Button b = new Button("You bet");
Button c = new Button("Shoot me");
Panel p = new Panel();
p.add(l);
}
}

I saved the file w/ the extension ".java". Now I want to know how do I compile it? Should I do it directly from command? I typed "%javac Party.java" but I get an error stating %javac is not recognized as an internal or external command. I try a space between them and nothing either. So I tried w/o % and it says cannot read Party.java

Also how do I get access to the Virtual Machine? The visual interface looks different than mine.

Sorry for all the questions I'm such a newbie

Hi Reynald

%javac Party.java

The % represents the system prompt or the command prompt for dos and should not be used to compile Java programs. Instead drop the %, and try compiling. That is
javac Party.java

After you have compiled the source code you will get a Party.class file. Use the following command to execute(run) your program,
java Party

It is also important to make sure your PATH as well as CLASSPATH are set. Check outthis for the same.

Thanks for all your help. Unfortunately, I still cannot run the Party program. I've add the Java bin directory and the directory containing my .java and .class files to the Path and the Classpath System and User environment variables. The program compiles fine, but when I try to run it, I'm getting the error "Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NoSuchMethodError: main", which is actuallt different from the error I received before

Any other pointers? Thanks!
[ August 17, 2005: Message edited by: Rita Chakras ]

Well, you've solved the first problem. Now, the JVM can find the class that you're looking for. Now, whenever the JVM starts, it looks for a method named "main" within the class you've told it to load (Party, in this case).

Specifically, you have to have a method signature that looks like:
public static void main(String[] args)

This is the method that the JVM calls, so it needs to be there with that signature, otherwise the JVM cannot find it. Double-check your Party class to make sure that you have a main method -- and remember, capitalization is important. ("main" is different than "Main")

Thanks, Joel.

So I changed the code to add the main and am now able to run "java Party" which is not doing anything. NOt sure if it's supposed to bring up the window as shown in the book or not, because, now the code, with the addition of the main, is different from the example in the book.

BTW... this book was recommended to me as being really good. It's not looking promising, but I'll chug along...

If it is the same program that Reynald
has posted try to add the line

f.setVisible( true );

I think this would display the window...

// Lee

Something like this...

import java.awt.*; import java.awt.event.*; class Party { public void buildInvite(){ Frame f = new Frame(); Label l = new Label("Party at Reynald's"); Button b = new Button("You bet"); Button c = new Button("Shoot me"); Panel p = new Panel(); p.add(l); f.setVisible( true ); } public static void main( String[] args ) { Party p = new Party(); p.buildInvite(); } }

// Lee

Well Lee, you're really not a greenhorn, are you?

Writing the code as you've shown did bring up a tiny window, but it's blank.

Anyway, I guess 1 step at a time. I'll wait to rewrite this once I've delved farther into the book.

Thanks, again!

Sorry, didn't see that the buttons and panel
where'nt added... try this:

import java.awt.*; import java.awt.event.*; class Party { public void buildInvite(){ Frame f = new Frame(); Label l = new Label("Party at Reynald's"); Button b = new Button("You bet"); Button c = new Button("Shoot me"); Panel p = new Panel(); p.add(l); p.add(b); p.add(c); f.add(p); f.setVisible( true ); } public static void main( String[] args ) { Party p = new Party(); p.buildInvite(); } }

Havn't coded much java in a couple of years
but as i remember it this should work...

If you want to use the buttons you have to add
a KeyListener, and if you want to change the
layout of the buttons and label look at GridLayout
or BorderLayout (there are more types of Layouts).

Good Luck!

// Lee

Cool... thanks! Can't wait to do more fun things like this