Welcome Welcome to Java Development in Max

Support for external objects made with the Java programming language is new with Max 4.5. Java and Max fit well together, and we've tried to create an Application Programming Interface (API) that makes programming external objects for Max easy and fast.

The first section of this document explains how to install Java on your computer, and how to use the mxj Max object which acts as the bridge between the worlds of Java and Max. The document will then lead you step-by-step through the creation of several Java classes written for mxj. These examples can serve as starting points for your own classes.

This document will not teach you very much about how to program in Java. You may learn most of what you need to understand from these tutorials, but we highly recommended taking the time to learn about object-oriented programming concepts and the basics of the Java language.

Luckily, Java is taught at just about every college and university, and consequently there is no shortage of quality learning aids, both in hard copy and on the net. For starters, Sun provides a lot of excellent on-line documentation. The Java Tutorial is a thorough introduction to the syntax of the language and all the important concepts. (Please note that since it only covers OS 9, the tutorial's dicussion of Mac-specific issues is obsolete and should be ignored. As Apple's web site says, Java is a "first-class citizen" of Mac OS X.)

Another resource that's worth investigating is the Javapedia. As its name suggests, the Javapedia project's aim is to create an encyclopedia of all things Java. Although young, this resource already boasts extensive links and information about Java technology, practice, and products, such as a list of recommended books.

Finally, when you are writing code the API reference for Java v1.4.2 will be invaluable.