James Arthur Gosling was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. Specific details about his early childhood are scarce, but it's known he developed a strong aptitude for problem-solving and a keen interest in electronics and computers at a young age.

Gosling displayed an early interest in tinkering with electronics. Stories circulate about him building a working TV set from scavenged parts before he was even a teenager. This passion showcased his natural aptitude for engineering and problem-solving.

While in high school, Gosling gained access to computer systems, possibly through school programs or personal connections. He began to learn programming, likely starting with languages common at the time like FORTRAN or BASIC. This early exposure solidified his decision to pursue computer science as a career.

Gosling earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Calgary. His undergraduate studies provided him with a solid foundation in programming principles, data structures, algorithms, and other core computer science concepts.

Gosling received his Ph.D. in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). His doctoral research focused on manipulating constraints in hierarchical systems and incremental compilers. This research experience proved valuable later in his career, particularly during the development of Java. His thesis title was “The Algebraic Manipulation of Constraints”.