Glossary

applet
A program, written in the Java programming language, that runs in a Web browser.

application
A standalone software program that enables the user to perform a specific task, such as database management. See also distributed application, enterprise application.

application server
A host computer that provides access to software applications.

AWT
(Abstract Window Tookit) An API that provides graphical user interfaces for Java programs. It also provides imaging tools, event-handling methods, layout managers, and data transfer classes. Components are implemented using native-platform versions and have largely been replaced by Swing components, which have a pluggable look and feel.

bean
A component written to the JavaBeans specification. See JavaBeans architecture.

breakpoint
A flag in the source code that causes the debugger to pause execution of the program at the point where the breakpoint is set.

browser
Application that enables users to view, navigate through, and interact with HTML documents and applets.

class
A group of attributes and methods that defines the implementation of a particular type of object.

code generation
The creation of boilerplate source code associated with templates, components, and layout managers in the IDE's Form Editor.

component
An object that is identified by its properties, operations, and relationships. For example, a button is a visual component. Its properties include size, foreground, and background color.

Component Inspector
A window for viewing both the visual (such as a button) and nonvisual (such as a layout manager) components of an application. A component's properties can be modified and events specified in this window.

component palette
A collection of toolbars that provides easy access to frequently used components, including AWT and Swing. A user interface is created by clicking a component in the component palette and then the Form Editor window.

CVS
(Concurrent Versions System) A version control system that enables you to save and retrieve different development versions of source code. It also enables a team of developers to share control of different versions of files in a common repository of files.

container
A component that contains other components. Windows and dialog boxes are examples of top-level containers. Panels, scroll panes, and tabbed panes are intermediate-level containers.

contextual menu
A menu that is displayed when a user right-clicks (presses mouse button 2) while the pointer is over an object or an area associated with that menu. A contextual menu offers only items that are applicable to the object or region at the location of the pointer.

dock
To anchor an object, such as a toolbar, to the edge of the window or pane to which it applies.

distributed application
One of several interacting software components distributed across a network or Internet environment. They execute on various computing nodes, working together to fulfill business needs. Usually, a number of Internet or intranet client components provide distributed application services.

dynamic code completion
The automatic completion of an expression as it is typed into the Source Editor window. To use this feature, type the first few characters of an expression, then press CTRL-SPACE. A list is displayed of classes, methods, and variables that can be used to complete the expression.

enterprise application
An application that encompasses an entire enterprise, integrating many departments, operations, or processes into a single system. Usually includes many client user interfaces (including Web browser clients), client applications that perform business logic, and data sources.

event
An action to which an object can respond. Many events are initiated by a user action, such as a click, key press, or mouse movement. Events can also be initiated by the system, other objects, containers, the application server, or even the operating system or environment.

event handler
A method that is called when an event is triggered on a component.

Explorer
A window in the IDE that provides a unified view of all objects and files in the IDE. The Explorer window is a good starting point for working with your application, including organizing files, editing object properties, and creating component connections.

Form Editor
A window in the IDE that enables you to create and modify a graphical interface. You can select a component (such as a panel, scrollbar, or menu) in the component palette and add it to the graphical interface by clicking in the Form Editor window.

JAR file (.jar)
(Java ARchive file) A file used for aggregating many files into one file.

JAR file format
(Java ARchive file format) A platform-independent file format that aggregates many files into one. Multiple applets written in the Java programming language, and their requisite components (class files, images, sounds, and other resource files) can be bundled in a JAR file and subsequently downloaded to a browser in a single HTTP transaction. It also supports file compression and digital signatures.

JavaBeans architecture
A portable, platform-independent, reusable component model. JavaBeans components (sometimes referred to as "beans") are the basic unit in this model.

javadoc
A tool for creating HTML information about classes by excerpting comments from a Java source code file.

JLF
(Java look and feel) The default appearance and behavior for JFC applications, designed for cross-platform use. The Java look and feel works in the same way on any platform that supports the Java Foundation classes.

JFC
(Java Foundation Classes) An extension to the Abstract Window Toolkit (AWT) that provides the Swing classes, a collection of graphical user interface components with a pluggable look and feel. The Java Foundation Classes (JFC) also provide the Java Accessibility API, which can be used to create applications that interact with assistive technologies. For the Java 2 platform, the JFC also includes the Java 2D API (for 2D graphics and imaging) and drag and drop.

JPDA
(Java Platform Debugger Architecture) The debugging support included in the Java 2 Platform, Standard Edition (J2SE SDK1.3). The JPDA enhances the standard IDE debugger by enabling you to set a breakpoint on a class, thread, or variable; set a conditional breakpoint; and evaluate an expression.

JSP
(JavaServer Pages) Extensible web technology that uses template data, custom elements, scripting languages, and server-side Java objects to return dynamic content to a client. The template data consists of HTML or XML elements.

keyboard shortcut
A keystroke combination (usually a modifier key and a character key, like Ctrl-C) that activates a menu item or a toolbar button command from the keyboard even if the relevant menu is not currently displayed.

layout manager
A property of a container component that control the size and location of components within the container. A layout manager ensures that the container can adjust to resizing and differences between systems, such as different font sizes. The Java platform supplies six layout managers: BorderLayout, BoxLayout, CardLayout, FlowLayout, GridBagLayout, and GridLayout.

main window
A window that acts as control center for the IDE. The main window contains menus, toolbars, and a component palette for developing Java applets and applications. From this window, the five IDE workspaces can be accessed.

MDI
(Multiple document interface) An interface that confines all of an application's internal frames to a desktop pane.

menu
A list of choices (menu items) logically grouped an displayed by an application so that a user need not memorize all available commands or options.

menu bar
The horizontal strip at the top of the main window that contain's the titles of the IDE's drop-down menus.

menu item
A choice in a menu. Menu items are typically commands or other options that a user can select.

method
A function defined in a class. Such a function can be applied to a specific object or the class itself.

mnemonic
An underlined letterm typically in a menu title, menu item, or the text of a button or component. A mnemonic shows the user which key to press (in conjunction with the Alt key) to activate a command or navigate to a component. See also keyboard operations, keyboard shortcut.

module
An independent piece of software that is part of a larger program but is usually compiled separately. Modules are implemented in such a way that you can change one module without affecting the other modules in the program.

multithreaded debugger
A tool for locating operational errors in a program that has been designed to have parts of its code execute concurrently. The debugger enables developers to step through the malfunctionaing portion of the program to examine data and check operational conditions. In the IDE's mulithreaded debugger, breakpoints and watches can be set and threads can be set in the Debugging window and compilations errors viewed in the Output window.

Object Browser
A three-pane window where the hierarchy of packages, objects, and members in an application can be viewed. Like the Explorer window, the Object Browser can be used for many tasks such as opening a source file; new packages, objects, and members can be added.

package
A collection of Java classes and interfaces grouped in a single entity.

project
A collection of files that makes up an applet or application. The files in a project can be operated on as a whole.

property
An attribute or characteristic of a GUI object. The properties of an object define size, color, and value.

Properties
A window for viewing and editing component properties. From the Explorer window, you can right-click the designed component, then choose the Properties command from a contextual menu. For example, you can view the properties of the MemoryView class in the advanced example called MemoryView and edit attributes such as name or Javadoc comment. See also Explorer and contextual menu.

RMI
(Remote Method Invocation) A distributed object model for Java program to Java program, in which the methods of remote objects written in the Java programming language can be invoked from other virtual machines, possibly on different hosts.

servlet
A server-side program that gives Java technology-enabled servers additional features.

Source Editor
A tool for editing Java, HTML, and plain text files as well as files specified by modules. Source code in the Editor window is automatically updated and generated while working in the Form Editor and Component Inspector. Generated source code is indicated by a shaded background and cannot be edited in the Source Editor window.

Swing components
A collection of GUI components with a pluggable look and feel used to design applications in any environment. Swing is part of the Java Foundation Classes and includes interface elements such as windows, dialog boxes, choosers, panels, panes, menus, controls, text components, tables, lists, and tree views.

template
Software code that serves as a guide for creating a component. A template provides the initial appearance and behavior of the object, which you can easily change. In the Forte for Java environment, components such as Swing and AWT containers are provided as templates.

VM
(virtual machine) An application that provides an interface between compiled Java binary code and the microprocessor that carries out the application's instructions. When a Java VM has been provided for a platform, any Java application can run on that platform.

workspace
A collection of windows with related functions. For example, when editing the user interface, you use a workspace that displays the Component Inspector, the Form Editor, and the source Editor. When debugging a program, you use the workspace that displays a window for setting breakpoints, monitoring threads, and watching the value of variables.

XML
(Extensible Markup Language) Markup language (a subset of SGML) from the World Wide Web Consortium for creating common data formats and sharing them on the Web. In contrast to HTML, the markup symbols in XML are unlimited and self-defining.

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