Writing in the Java programming language is the official way to produce code that will be deployed as Java bytecode (though there are compilers available for other languages such as Python and Ruby). Java syntax borrows heavily from C and C++ but it eliminates certain low-level constructs such as pointers and has a very simple memory model where every object is allocated on the heap and all variables of object types are references.

Java has non-object primitive types but every other data type is an object. The Java class libraries provide wrapper objects for the primitive types, and since Java SE 5.0 the Java compiler automatically inserts conversions between a wrapper type and its corresponding primitive. Memory management is handled through integrated automatic garbage collection performed by the JVM.

The current version, Mustang Java SE 6.0, is bundled with a database manager, facilitates the use of scripting languages (currently JavaScript using Mozilla's Rhino engine) with the JVM, has Visual Basic language support, and has native UI enhancements to support the look and feel of Windows Vista.

As Sun Microsystems has announced its intention to license Java under a modified GPL within coming months, with features like MLP — Multi Language and Platform support — the future of Java seems bright.

Netbeans, an open-source IDE and platform sponsored by Sun Microsystems, which support development of both desktop and enterprise applications in Java. In future, its expected that Java, Netbeans, and glassfish application-server will integrate together to a complete development stack, like Microsoft DotNet.

Eclipse, the open-source platform with JDT supporting Java development funded mainly by IBM, has paved the way of easy application development using Java as a platform, in competition with other integrated development environments.