Packages: huge number available
- A key feature of Java is the huge number of packages available to use
- The basic Java Development Kit (v1.4) comes with 130 packages, each containing dozens of classes
- Many organisations have produced additional packages which can be used, many free of charge (eg, the Apache projects at www.apache.org)
- Most people today providing software modules for widespread re-use will do so in Java first, maybe other languages later