Difference Between JDK 1.5 and JDK 1.6

JDK 1.5 vs JDK 1.6

A review of both JDK 1.5 and JDK 1.6 is a good road as it takes us down memory lane, where one of the programs is a predecessor of another. JDK or Java 1.5 is a program that was released in late 2004. JDK 1.5 is also referred to as JDK 5.0. This same analogy follows the JDK 1.6 which is also referred to as JDK 6.0.

JDK 1.5 comes with the option of offering support to generics, as its documentation shows that it is compatible or provides compatibility with compile-time type safety, and with this benefit it eliminates any need for the use of typecasts or type conversion.

Another thing that can be said of JDK1.5 is with regard to metadata. This is also referred to at times as annotations. It is such classes that allow for methods to be tagged with additional data, which are then processed by metadata aware utilities.

Autoboxing or unboxing was also another feature that was focused upon in the build of JDK 1.5. This feature allows for automatic conversions that come in between primitive types like int and primitive wrapper classes like integer.

Enumerations, on the other hand, come with the enum keyword that creates a specific typeface which is an ordered list of values such as day, month or even time. In previous versions of the program, it was not quite possible to get to these and could only be reached through non-type safe integers, or for the serious people, manually constructed classes. The swing of JDK1.5 is an all-new look with a skinnable look and feel referred to as synth.

A comparison of JDK 1.5 with JDK 1.6 is quite huge. The overall difference is that JDK 1.6 is much faster and execution of commands is seamless. The fast and smooth running affects desktops and servers alike.

JDK 1.6 is also the first Java platform to ever have the support of Windows Vista, though the version was not sustained long in production.
Upgrading to JDK 1.6 from JDK 1.5 comes with benefits such as JavaScript that is integrated and included in the entire platform, complete lightweight platform that can be used for the different web services. JDK 1.6 also comes with a simplified GUI that allows even novice users to enjoy learning and follow through. It is also important in the provision of a simplified GUI design and an expanded native platform support.

Another thing that is unique in JDK 1.6 that is not available in JDK 1.5 is that there is a full JDBC4 implementation. This is also crucial in the provision of XML database support. JDK 1.6 also comes with a Java DB includes and a user is free to make use of in the deployment of the Java Database. JDK 1.6 is also different from JDK 1.5 in that it offers full support of the NetBeans IDE5.5.

It is also important to mention that JDK 1.6 comes with some improved security enhancements when compared to the JDK 1.5. Among these include the Native platform security, Java Authentication and Authorization Service (JAAS), the New Smart Card I/OAPI, native security services and library updates too.

Summary

The overall aim of JDK 1.6 was to provide improved service over JDK 1.5.
JDK 1.5 also called JDK 5.0 and JDK 1.6 is also referred to as JDK 6.0.
Applications run faster on JDK 1.6 as opposed to JDK 1.5.
JDK 1.6 is the first Java application to support Vista.
JDK 1.6 comes with JavaScript integration in platform.
JDK 1.6 is lightweight and light on system resources.
JDK 1.6 has an appealing and simplified GUI.
JDK 1.6 allows support of NetBeans IDE 5.5.
JDK 1.6 also comes with improved security features.

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