Key difference: Java is a programming language, which has been influenced by the C language. It derives much of its syntax from C and C++, however it has fewer low-level facilities than either. Java is a general-purpose programming language that is designed to have fewer implementation dependencies as compared to previous languages. The main difference between Java and Core Java is that Java is a programming language, while Core Java refers to a computing platform. Core Java is commonly used as slang to refer to the Java Platform Standard Edition. A computing platform allows the developed software to run.

Java is a programming language, which has been influenced by the C language. It derives much of its syntax from C and C++, however it has fewer low-level facilities than either. Java is a general-purpose programming language that is designed to have fewer implementation dependencies as compared to previous languages. It is concurrent, class-based, and an object-oriented language.

Java was developed by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and was released in 1995. It was originally released as a core component of Sun Microsystems' Java platform. Sun has since re-licensed most of its Java technologies under the GNU General Public License. This means that all the technology licensed under GNU General Public License is open source and generally available free of cost. Sun Microsystems eventually merged into Oracle Corporation.

Java is designed to allow the same code to run on various platforms. i.e., developers are allowed to “write once, run anywhere” (WORA). Hence, Java applications are typically compiled to bytecode. A class file which contains a Java bytecode can then be run on any Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This would be regardless of computer architecture.

As of 2012, Java has become one of the most popular programming languages for use. This is especially true for client-server web applications. Many other systems have developed alternative implementations of Sun technologies, such as GNU Compiler for Java and GNU Classpath.

C++ and Java originate from the same point, i.e. the C language. However, they have difference design goals. C++ was originally designed for systems and applications programming, whereas Java was created initially as an interpreter for printing systems. Java eventually grew to support network computing.

The main difference between Java and Core Java is that Java is a programming language, while Core Java refers to a computing platform. Core Java is commonly used as slang to refer to the Java Platform Standard Edition. A computing platform allows the developed software to run. It contains computer architecture, operating system and Runtime libraries. It also contains hardware architecture and a software framework, as well as an application framework.

There are three main computing platform released by Sun Microsystems, which was eventually taken over by the Oracle Corporation. The computing platforms are all based on the Java programming language. These computing platforms are:

• Java SE, i.e. Java Standard Edition. It is normally used for developing desktop applications. It forms the core/base API.
• Java EE, i.e. Java Enterprise Edition. This was originally known as Java 2 Platform, Enterprise Edition or J2EE. The name was eventually changed to Java Platform, Enterprise Edition or Java EE in version 5. Java EE is mainly used for applications which run on servers, such as web sites.
• Java ME, i.e. Java Micro Edition. It is mainly used for applications which run on resource constrained devices (small scale devices) like cell phones, most commonly games.

Java SE or Core Java, as it is commonly known is one of the most widely used platforms of the Java programming language. It is based on the object-oriented Java programming language. It is mainly used for development and deployment of portable applications for desktop and server environments.

Essentially, Java SE is a platform specification. It defines a wide range of general purpose APIs. This includes Java APIs for the Java Class Library, as well as the Java Language Specification and the Java Virtual Machine Specification.

The Java Development Kit, also known as JD, is a widespread and well known implementation of Java SE.

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