Java (cannibalized definition) - a programming language
developed by Sun, runs multi-platform because it compiles
to byte-codes that are interpreted by a "Virtual Machine"
that can be ported to many platforms. The "Virtual Machine"
runs applets in a "sandbox" which makes it theoretically
secure.
JavaScript - a scripting language developed by Netscape for
running client-side scripts w/in HTML pages. Originally
named LiveScript but renamed to include the magical letters
j, a, v, a. Note: JavaScript is *not* a subset of Java.
They are about as similar as Latin and pig-Latin. In
Navigator 2.0, they are absolutely completely unrelated
and unintegrated. Netscape used the name "JavaScript" as
a clever marketing ploy. In Nav3.0, they will relate more
once JavaScripts can communicate to Java applets.
Microsoft policy: Microsoft likes Java, and Microsoft likes
JavaScript. We embrace both completely. We naturally dislike
the confusion NetScape has induced among our ISVs and
customers by using misleading names for mkting purposes.
IE3.0 will fully implement Java support, and will implement
a safe subset of JavaScript (NetScape's JavaScript object
model is not fully secure). For more info on IE3.0, see
http://www.microsoft.com/ie and http://www.microsoft.com/intdev.
- Hadi Partovi
Program Manager, Internet Explorer / ActiveX
thanks,
dyrhee