For the Java newbies!

 I want to say a big HELLO to the fellow programmers out there, especially the newbies! We've all been there before and could've used a little help from the "experienced ones" during those precious first endeavors into the programming world. Even the simple installation process for Python, Java, and the various IDE (Integrated Development Environment) options wasn't as straightforward as I thought they would have been. Well, I'm here to provide a little bit of extra clarification to get you through the process smoothly and successfully as well as help set proper expectations going forward. 

I'll start by giving you some tips on Java installation and how I chose an IDE to use. To download Java, start by going to the Java Tutorials page on the Oracle website, then downloading the Java Development Kit using the link on the right side. After running the installer, I noticed that it did not provide an executable program in my Windows 10 Start Menu, but don't be afraid of this because Java is installed in the background. Just search for an IDE that will be your user interface to interact with the Java language. As a beginner, I simply Google searched "the best IDE for beginners" and found this site that provided various options including their list of features and even their download links. Choose what you think looks best for you. If it doesn't work out, there are plenty of other options to try! The IDE you choose should provide a "Hello World" tutorial to show you the ropes, so don't skip out on it! 

Java is one of many OOP (Object Oriented Programming) languages out there, but what does this mean? There are 4 major principles of Object Oriented Programming, which are Encapsulation, Data Abstraction, Polymorphism, and Inheritance. These principles discuss features like object representation, object uniqueness compared to others, object relationships, and overriding of object values. Object-Oriented Programming concepts include the difference between an Object, a Class, Inheritance, and a Package. 

An OOP System includes the following:

• Objects can be a physical OR logical entity, and it has individual characteristics.
• Classes encompass a collection of individual objects.
• Inheritance explains the relationship and acquired properties from other objects.
• Polymorphism shows the multiple ways an action can be completed.
• Abstraction hides the background details but shows the process.
• Encapsulation puts code and data together as one new entity.

I hope this gives you some basics to start with and a few core concepts to help you understand Java and its features. I know a little bit of extra base knowledge would have really helped me to understand what I was doing in the beginning. Good luck!