The JDK also contains a Java Runtime Environment (JRE) that is able to run compiled Java code. Other tools include an archiver (jar) and a documentation generator (javadoc). One of these development tools is a compiler (javac) that converts Java source code (. It contains tools that allow you to develop and run your Java program. When you want to create a Java application you need a Java Development Kit (JDK). We should note that before this long-running project, there were JDK Release Projects that released one feature and were then discontinued.Check following guides if you are looking to download and install JDK 1.5, JDK 1.6, JDK 1.8, JDK 1.9 or JDK 1.10. And, just like for Oracle, the JDK Project will also deliver new feature releases every six months. Initially, it was based only on the JDK 7, but since Java 10, the open-source reference implementation of the Java SE platform is the responsibility of the JDK Project. We should emphasize that OpenJDK is an official reference implementation of a Java Standard Edition since version SE 7. Note: the versions in italics are no longer supported. Let's take a look at the Java SE history:

Oracle strongly recommends using the term JDK to refer to the Java SE (Standard Edition) Development Kit (there are also Enterprise Edition and Micro Edition platforms).

It's thus named because it contains more tools than the standalone JRE, as well as the other components needed for developing Java applications. It contains a complete Java Runtime Environment, a so-called private runtime.

JDK (Java Development Kit) is a software development environment used in Java platform programming.

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