The classpath is one of the most complex and infuriating parts of the Java platform, but mastering it is essential to becoming a professional Java programmer. Delve into the intricacies of the classpath and sourcepath and learn how to control them on UNIX and the Mac OS X. In this second article you can tame the classpath in Windows with a few simple rules and save yourself from time-killing problems.
As someone who is currently taking Java courses, I found these articles interesting and usefull.
Whoever came up with the idea of the classpath should have been shot at birth.