Version 1.5.0 or 5.0?
Both version numbers "1.5.0" and "5.0" are used to identify this
release of the Java 2 Platform Standard Edition.
Version "5.0" is the product version, while
"1.5.0" is the developer version.
The number "5.0" is used to better reflect the level of maturity,
stability, scalability and security of the J2SE.
The number "5.0" was arrived at by dropping the leading "1."
from "1.5.0". Where you might have expected to see 1.5.0, it
is now 5.0 (and where it was 1.5, it is now 5).
"Version 5.0" Used in Platform and Product Names
Version 5.0 is used in the platform and product names as given
in this table:
| Full Name | Abbreviation | |
| Platform name | JavaTM 2 Platform Standard Edition 5.0 | J2SETM 5.0 |
| Products delivered under the platform | J2SETM Development Kit 5.0 | JDKTM 5.0 |
| J2SETM Runtime Environment 5.0 | JRE 5.0 |
Due to significant popularity within the Java developer community,
the development kit has reverted back to the name "JDK" from "Java 2 SDK" (or "J2SDK"),
and the runtime environment has reverted back to "JRE" from "J2RE".
Notice that "JDK" stands for "J2SE Development Kit" (to distinguish
it from the J2EE Development Kit). The name "Java Development Kit"
is no longer used, and has not been offically used since 1.1, prior
to the advent of J2EE and J2ME.
As before, the "2" in Java 2 Platform Standard Edition indicates the
2nd generation Java platform, introduced with J2SE 1.2. This generation
number is also used with J2EE and J2ME.
"Version 1.5.0" Used by Developers
J2SE also keeps the version number 1.5.0 (or 1.5) in some places that
are visible only to developers, or where the version number
is parsed by programs. As mentioned, 1.5.0 refers to exactly the same
platform and products numbered 5.0. Version numbers 1.5.0 and 1.5 are used at:
- java -version (among other info, returns java version "1.5.0")
- java -fullversion (returns java full version "1.5.0-b64")
- javac -source 1.5 (javac -source 5 also works)
- java.version system property
- java.vm.version system property
- @since 1.5 tag values
- jdk1.5.0 installation directory
- jre1.5.0 installation directory
- http://java.sun.com/j2se/1.5.0 website (http://java.sun.com/j2se/5.0 also works)
Also see:
