From Java to Kotlin: Leveraging the Power of the JVM for Multiple Languages

Is Java and the Java Virtual Machine the same thing? Do JVM understand Java code? Can other langauges (like Kotlin) use JVM? Is Kotlin converted to Java code before running on the JVM?

→ Java and JVM (Java Virtual Machine) are often mentioned together, leading to questions about their relationship. Let’s find out the answers.

🎯 Are Java and JVM Synonymous?
No, Java and JVM are not synonymous. 
→ Java is a programming language, while JVM is a virtual machine that executes Java bytecode. 
→ Java provides a syntax and language constructs for writing code, and JVM acts as the runtime environment that runs the compiled Java bytecode.

🎯 What is the relation between Java and JVM?
→ The relationship between Java and JVM can be likened to a car and a diesel engine. 
→ Java is a programming language, just as a car is a means of transportation. 
→ JVM, on the other hand, is the runtime environment that enables the execution of Java bytecode, like a diesel engine powering a car.

→ Similar to how various car models can run on a diesel engine, Java programs, along with other JVM-supported languages, can run on the JVM.

🎯 What does JVM Understands? A Java code?
→ JVM primarily understands bytecode, which is a machine-readable format. 
→ It interprets and executes bytecode instructions, regardless of the programming language used to generate them.
→ JVM’s bytecode execution model allows for cross-language compatibility, as long as the language’s compiler generates bytecode conforming to the JVM specification.

🎯 What Other Languages Use JVM?
→ In addition to Java, JVM supports several other programming languages. Some popular languages that run on JVM include:

Kotlin
Scala
Groovy
Clojure

🎯 Do These Languages Compile to Java Code first?
→ No, the languages that run on JVM, including Java itself, are compiled to bytecode.
→ Each language has its own compiler that translates its source code into JVM bytecode, making it compatible with the JVM runtime environment.

🎯 How to Launch a JVM?
→ To launch a JVM, you typically need the Java Development Kit (JDK) installed on your system.
→ The JDK provides the necessary tools and libraries to develop and run Java applications. 
→ Once you have the JDK installed, you can use the `java` command to launch a JVM and execute your Java bytecode.
→ For example, running `java MyProgram` command will start the JVM and execute the `MyProgram` class.