What is commonly the first step in Java program development?

Writing the source code is typically the first step in Java program development because it involves translating the program's requirements and logic into a language that the Java compiler can understand. At this stage, developers focus on defining variables, implementing functions, and orchestrating the functionality of the program. This foundational step is critical because it lays the groundwork for the application's behavior.

Once the source code is written, it can be compiled into bytecode that the Java Virtual Machine (JVM) can execute. This phase precedes other steps like creating a user interface or testing the code, which rely on having a functioning source code to work with. The development process flows logically from writing the code, where initial programming constructs and logic are established, before moving on to testing and execution phases.