201 using Java and TextPad together

The CD that comes with our textbook has a Java compiler and several IDEs for use with Java. IDE stands for "Integrated Programming Environment" — a suite of tools to combine editing, compiling, linking, and running (all the steps we talked about on August 24) in one semi-smooth package.

I don't mind not using such a package.

However, I do love TextPad. It's an editor useful for Java, C++, HTML, and any number of other programming and sysadmin tasks. And, using its capacity to add useful t-for-Tools, we can roll our own wee IDE.

Prof. Robert Kline of West Chester University in Pennsylvania has written a web page with complete instructions and links for combining Java and TextPad in this useful fashion.

Following his directions, I found that I could compile and run from within TextPad without setting the Path and Classpath environment variables, which is not how I remember last year's experience, but I accept it. So, for the time being, I suggest that 201 students follow that procedure: we will be using the command line very soon in any case.

You can follow all of Kline's directions excluding those with path and shell in the title, including the last one titled Test the Installation. Woo-hoo!