Getting Started

The COMSOL API is based on Java®. You must have access to a Java compiler to create and compile programs that can utilize the functionality provided by the COMSOL API.

You can either use a standard Java compiler or you can use a integrated development environment.

You can get a compiler from www.oracle.com. Go to that website and download a Java JDK that suits you. The version for Java SE is suitable for most uses. The Oracle website also have plenty of background information on the Java language. Especially the Java Tutorial can be recommended for users that have little or no prior experience in using the Java language.

It is highly recommended that you use an integrated development environment (IDE) for writing and compiling the Java programs. An IDE helps when writing the source code because it provides the user with code completion, syntax highlighting, and access to help text (JavaDoc). An IDE usually also provides an integrated debugger that makes it possible to run the program line by line in order to easier find any bugs in the programs while running.

One such IDE is Eclipse. Eclipse is free and can be downloaded from www.eclipse.org. On the download page, download the Eclipse IDE for Java Developers.

The following sections assume that you have basic knowledge of the Java language and knows how to, for example, compile a Java program.

See www.comsol.com/system-requirements for the supported Java versions.