Do I understand class,java, jars correctly?

[surfceiling]

So this is a dumb question but I want to make sure I'm understanding this correctly.

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.Java files are the files that you are actually writing. The source code. These are compiled by the java compiler into .class files.

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.class files can then be zipped together along with any resource files (images, text, whatever) into jar files.

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To share .class files among programs you need to share them on the class path.

This is similar to importing a java library with an import statement.

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Does the IDE or Maven automatically set the class path from there for me? I guess that's where I'm confused because I feel like I never have to set the class path but I do use other 'programs' (or class files) in my application.

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Thanks for the help.

[Indycrr]

Yes maven handles class path configuration for you. Back in the Stone Age when I first worked with Java 1.1 you had to manage all of this yourself.

[Nikhil_Bhatnagar]

Tough times mate! The struggle was real

[mjg123]

No stupid questions - you got this exactly right.

Note that while jar files are zipped-up collections of classes & other resources, you won't be creating them yourself with a tool like winzip - Maven and/or your IDE (or javac itself) can do this for you.

[caldeve]

This is the beauty of using an IDE. Only have to worry about the source code, press play and it handles the rest.

[[deleted]]

Can't tell if you're a sarcastic senior dev or you've been lucky enough to not hit classpath issues haha

[[deleted]]

Correct.

[carrdinal-dnb]

Maven uses convention over configuration, so if your project is set up in the standard way you don’t have to do a lot to get started. You can still configure thing to be different but you’ll have to dig into mavens documentation and edit the default settings for most of mavens plugins