Mac OS X is the only major consumer operating system that comes complete with a fully configured and ready-to-use Java runtime and development environment. Professional Java developers are increasingly turning to the feature-rich Mac OS X as the operating system of choice for both Mac-based and cross-platform Java development projects. Mac OS X includes the full version of J2SE 1.5, pre-installed with the Java Development Kit (JDK) and the HotSpot virtual machine (VM), so you don't have to download, install, or configure anything.

Deploying Java applications on Mac OS X takes advantage of many built-in features, including 64-bit support, resolution independence, automatic support of multiprocessor hardware, native support for the Java Accessibility API, and the native Aqua look and feel. As a result, Java applications on Mac OS X look and perform like native applications on Mac OS X.

Java for Developers

If you need a ready-to-run development environment for Java, Apple provides a complete, first-class suite of development tools, known as Xcode, with every Mac OS X system. The Xcode IDE sports a groundbreaking user interface that delivers powerful tools to support Java development, including reusable templates for Java projects; built-in support for building with ant, testing with JUnit, and managing your project with Maven; and the versatile AppleScript Studio for scripting Java applications. You can mix Java and other languages, such as Objective-C, in Cocoa applications using JNI. If you are already using a Java-based IDE, including IntelliJ IDEA, Sun NetBeans, or IBM Eclipse, you can install and run it on Mac OS X.

Before you ship, push your application to the limit with Apple's performance tools. Use Shark, JConsole, and Instruments to uncover hot spots, eliminate bottlenecks, and optimize memory usage, so you can deliver to your customers the best Java product possible.

Mac OS X also provides Java support in WebObjects, a robust set of Java frameworks for building industrial-strength web-based applications. Using a common language such as Java speeds up development time considerably and provides a cross-platform solution for today's complex business environment.

Java for the Enterprise

For enterprise developers, powerful open source tools come pre-installed in Mac OS X Server, including JBoss, Apache Tomcat, and Apache Axis, making development and deployment of J2EE applications and web services easier than ever. The high-performance Java Runtime Environment (JRE) and the highly optimized Just-In-Time compiler (JITc) are integrated with Mac OS X , so they are readily available to all your applications. Mac OS X automatically includes the Java libraries in its standard search paths, so when you develop and deploy Java applications on Mac OS X, you know that Java is already installed and configured to work with your system.

64-bits of Pure Power

JSDK 1.5 on Mac OS X is 64-bit ready, giving you nearly unlimited memory for handling larger data sets. So whether you work with gene sequencing, image files, scientific visualization and simulation, or just want to cache your application's database in memory, Java on Mac OS X has what you need.

Java on Mac OS X sports better performance numbers than its competitors, including Linux. Couple that with best Java development environment, and you have a winning combination for putting pure power into the hands of your customers.

Java for the End User

Mac users are known for their high standards, so if you're bringing your Java application over from another platform, you'll find that adding support for Mac OS X is one of the easiest things you can do to make your program look and behave like a native Mac application. No matter what type of application you intend to deploy — server or command line, application bundle, or WebStart — by paying attention to the platform you can create a seamless Mac OS X experience. It's no big deal to provide Mac users with a relocatable, easy-to-install application with a native menu bar and support for native events. Simply drop in your jars and resources and set properties with Jar Bundler, create an icon with Icon Composer, and you're ready to go.

Because Java is integrated into the operating system and kept updated through regular software updates, applications don't need to bundle a JRE. Java support is transparent to users, so when you distribute your Java application to your Mac OS X users, it includes all the flexibility, power, and charm of the native Mac OS X platform, allowing you to easily layer and customize your application to give your users the consistent user interface of the Aqua look and feel.

If you are ready to begin learning about the APIs and tools available on Mac OS X for Java, go to Getting Started With Java, for a guided introduction and learning path.

For news, updates and links to other ADC content related to Java on Mac OS X, return to the Java topic page.

Updated: 2007-10-30