What are the basic building blocks of a Java program, and how do they differ from other programming languages?

The basic building blocks of a Java program are:

1. Class: This is the blueprint from which individual objects are created. In Java, everything is encapsulated under classes.

2. Object: Objects have states and behaviors. An object is an instance of a class.

3. Method: A method is a behavior. A class can contain many methods. It is in methods where the logics are written, data is manipulated and all the actions are executed.

4. Variable: Variables are containers for storing data values.

5. Array: An array is a group of like-typed variables that are referred to by a common name.

Java differs from other programming languages in several ways:

1. Platform Independent: Unlike many other programming languages including C and C++, when Java is compiled, it is not compiled into platform specific machine, rather into platform independent byte code. This byte code is distributed over the web and interpreted by the Virtual Machine (JVM) on whichever platform it is being run on.

2. Object-Oriented: In Java, everything is an Object. Java can be easily extended since it is based on the Object model.

3. Simple: Java is designed to be easy to learn. If you understand the basic concept of OOP Java, it would be easy to master.

4. Secure: With Java's secure feature, it enables to develop virus-free, tamper-free systems. Authentication techniques are based on public-key encryption.

5. Robust: Java makes an effort to eliminate error prone situations by emphasizing mainly on compile time error checking and runtime checking.

6. Multithreaded: With Java's multithreaded feature it is possible to write programs that can perform many tasks simultaneously. This design feature allows developers to construct interactive applications that can run smoothly.