The first version of the Java programming language was released by Sun Microsystems in a landmark event for software development and the tech industry. Initially developed in the early 1990s under the project name 'Oak' by a team led by James Gosling, Java was designed as a language for interactive television. However, its scope quickly evolved to target the burgeoning Internet market, with a focus on platform independence, which meant programs could run on any device equipped with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). This unique characteristic, often referred to as 'write once, run anywhere' (WORA), became a driving factor in its adoption among developers.

Java's capabilities were bolstered by its incorporation of object-oriented programming principles, making it user-friendly and robust for creating software applications. The first official release, Java 1.0, highlighted a variety of new features, including a rich set of APIs, automatic memory management through garbage collection, and a strong security framework ideal for networked applications. The language's syntax was also similar to C and C++, easing the transition for programmers familiar with those languages.

Following its release, Java quickly garnered a wide user base, thanks to its strong performance in web applications, which were critical during the early days of the Internet. The language's versatility made it suitable for a multitude of environments, from mobile devices to large-scale enterprise systems. Developers gravitated towards Java for building server-side applications and dynamic web content. Sun Microsystems provided extensive support through documentation and community engagement, helping to establish a thriving ecosystem around the Java platform, which included tools and libraries that enhanced development processes. By embracing collaboration and offering open-source elements, Java continued to expand its reach well into the subsequent decades.