Java has evolved to become more beginner-friendly. This guide walks you through creating a simple program that prints βHello World,β using both the classic syntax and the new streamlined approach introduced in Java 21.
Traditionally, Java requires a class with a main method as the entry point:
public class Main {
public static void main(String[] args) {
System.out.println("Hello World");
}
}This works across all Java versions and forms the foundation of most Java programs.
Introduced as a preview in Java 21 (JEP 445), you can use Unnamed Classes and an Instance Main Method, which allows for a much cleaner syntax:
void main() {
System.out.println("Hello World");
}- β
No need for a
public classdeclaration - β
No
statickeyword required - β Great for quick scripts and learning
To compile and run this, use:
java --source 25 HelloWorld.java