What direction/technologies/software/books should I gets for starting with java programming?

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Java

Hi all,

My company is sending me on a advanced java course as they want me to write some plugins for a tool which they are using. I did a course on java 8 years ago and haven't looked at it since.

I am a software programmer, specializing more in c, c#, vb so I think the shift shouldn't be to difficult.

I need some recommendation on the following:

1) Freeware/open source compiler & IDE.
I'm thinking eclipse with gcj although I see the Swing and AWT APIs is
not included. Would there be other gui APIs included with gjc? Would I
be able to add these APIs to gcj eventhough its not included?
Does java have a JBuilder Express which I can download? As you can see
I have many questions. Fill in the gaps where you think necessary.

2) I want to buy a java book to use as a reference... what books can your recommend?

3) Whats the difference between a java app and java plugin? Would I need to specialize to be able to write plugins? E.g. How to create java plugin book?

4) The course I'm doing is a advanced course... The prerequizit for the course is the java basic course which I'm not going to do... what basic java technologies can I browse over to prepare for the course?

Thanks,
R. Erasmus