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I am a beginning programmer that has been using an IDE to learn to code. However I want to try using a text editor to see which one I would like more. My question is, once you download a text editor, what tools do you need to compile and run a program and how do you set them up?

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    What operating system do you have ? (Windows ?) Commented Aug 8, 2014 at 23:21

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You just need the JDK. Installing it (it has an installer) should set it up sufficiently.

When you want to compile something, use the javac tool:

> javac MyClass.java

When you want to run something, most likely you'll want the java tool (although of course if you're doing servlets or such, you'd use something else):

> java MyClass

Or of course, go ahead and use a separate text editor if you like but continue to use the IDE to compile, not least because presumably any IDE you were using had an integrated debugger, and a debugger is an essential tool.

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If you want to use a text editor for java programming don't forget to add java to your Environment Variables Path. You can check if java is already added to your path by running java -version in your command line. If you get nothing you have to add C:\Program Files\Java\jdk1.8.0; to your path (your version of the jdk may be different, change it to the name you have). Don’t forget that semi-colon ; at the end.

Now you are set and ready to compile and run java programs just as explained by @T.J. Crowder in the answer above.

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