Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

General Discussion

Mary Hodges
Mary Hodges
208 Points
Posted by Mary Hodges
Mary Hodges
208 Points

I am doing the Java track- is the console the compiler?

I am very new and I have never done anything like this. I am making it through the track okay. I just feel like I am imitating and maybe not understanding it all fully. I enter the code into the workspace and then when I "test" it in the "console" is that the compiler?

2 Answers

Robert Richey
PLUS
Robert Richey
Courses Plus Student 16,352 Points
Robert Richey
Robert Richey
Courses Plus Student 16,352 Points

Hi Mary,

We use the console to issue commands to compile and execute our code. This is very similar to how you might do it on your own computer, if you weren't using an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) like Netbeans or Eclipse - which, are able to compile and run the program for you without needing to use the console.

What's likely going on behind the scenes is when you use the console to compile and run Java - in your Treehouse workspace - those commands are being sent out to a server which is doing the actual compiling and execution, and then returning the results back to you.

Mary Hodges
Mary Hodges
208 Points
Mary Hodges
Mary Hodges
208 Points

Thank you! I was trying to talk to a friend about what I am doing on here.. but didn't really know what to tell them or how to describe it.

Also- when I am running the program we are doing in the console.. how do I make it stop?

Robert Richey
Robert Richey
Courses Plus Student 16,352 Points

I don't remember exactly, but it's either CTRL + C or Z. Or if you're on a Mac, I imagine it's similarly CMD + C or Z. If this doesn't work, I suggest creating a new question on the forum, since it may be 12+ hours before I can look into it.