Here you will find brief instruction on how to use common Java IDE (Integrated Development Environment). My recommendation is to use the compiler that comes with the JDK (Java Development Kit) from Sun. Many (all?) of the commercial Java IDE come with a visual editor that lets you design user interface objects interactively. Visual editors are useful when you attain certain level proficiency in writing Java programs, but for the beginners, it is best not to use these tools. These visual editors generate source code automatically, but the code they generate is very cryptic, espcially to the beginners, and not very educational, so it's best to stay away from them while you are trying to learn the basics of object-oriented programming and Java.