Java is so ubiquitous it’s almost an essential part of computing
life. Over three billion devices use it, including – of course –
computers. A very long time ago, it was even installed as part
of Windows, but some legal shenanigans later, and now only Apple
users have it installed alongside the operating system. Windows
and Linux users will need to install it separately. What makes
Java so popular? Its cross-platform for starters, so if you code
an application in Java, it’ll run on any computer – Windows, Mac
or Linux – that has Java installed. It’s also extensively used
on various websites, so all-in-all it’s worth installing even as
an insurance policy. You might be surprised to discover which
applications require Java – often, they’ll automatically bundle
and install it automatically during the setup process, but
sometimes it doesn’t quite go to plan, and all you’ll be told is
that you need Java. Should you ever find yourself confronted by
this message, you’ll need this, the Java Runtime Environment
(JRE),