1) Install an IDE (I also prefer Eclipse - it will not mangle your
machine).
2) Do some tutorials; write some code; ask 'specific' questions when
they crop up. Post to a java list for java questions. Post to this
list if the problem is unique to java running on OSX.
3) Don't worry about devilish details that may seem overwhelming when
first diving in.
4) Wiki. Google.
Apple has arguably set up a convoluted java versioning environment.
However, it works, and is the same on everyone else's machine and
maintains backward compatibility. The default version for your OS
(Leopard or Tiger) is 1.5. You can change this with
Applications>Utilities>Java>Java Preferences; however, you probably
shouldn't at this stage. Eclipse will automatically point to the
default version.
Environment variables (everything you wrote in ALL_CAPS) are required
by some programs, but are not required to run java. They are not
globally required and Apple has no way of knowing in advance what your
needs might be so it doesn't set them. This is a good thing. Don't set
them until you need them. Eclipse will take care of setting the
classpath. Useful third party tools have often been wrapped up as
Eclipse plug-ins. When installed, they will configure themselves
correctly.
Don't even think about using Maven until you understand what the java
'classpath' is and are comfortable writing, building, and debugging
some simple java applications. Maven is a build tool that does a great
job of managing dependencies but will only serve to frustrate you more
at this stage.
Wiki. Google
-Peter
-------------------------
Peter Powers
Dept. of Earth Sciences (ZHS 117)
University of Southern California
3651 Trousdale Pkwy.
Los Angeles, CA 90089-0740
-------------------------
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