This is the Java compiler, and whether you use Maven, Gradle, the SpringSource IDE or Jenkins CI, it's this JDK tool that's used under the covers when Java source code gets compiled. But why does a ...

Learn how to use Java annotations to associate metadata with classes, methods, and other application elements in your Java programs.

It may also refer to compiling the source code into the native language of a particular hardware platform, which makes it hardware dependent. See Java Virtual Machine and Java.