I am looking at JDM. Is this simply an API to interact with other tools that do the actual data mining? Or is this a set of packages that contain the actual data mining algorith
This project is inactive. It is an API. It does not provide algorithm implementations.
AFAIK, this is just an API to link Java applications with data mining tools. See the actual API and this whitepaper for more details.
Here's the package list from the JDM API (can't seem to find it online):
Wikipedia says:
Java Data Mining (JDM) is a standard Java API for developing data mining applications and tools. JDM defines an object model and Java API for data mining objects and processes.
According to this article and the JSR for JDM 2.0 (#247):
By extending the existing JDM standard with new mining functions and algorithms, data mining clients can be coded against a single API that is independent of the underlying data mining system. The goal of JDM is to provide for data mining systems what JDBCTM did for relational databases.
So it appears that, yes, JDM is an API to interact with other tools that do the actual mining. It also appears that this JSR is currently inactive.
Ah, the wonders of the interweb:
Java Data Mining (JDM) is a standard Java API for developing data mining applications and tools. JDM defines an object model and Java API for data mining objects and processes. JDM enables applications to integrate data mining technology for developing predictive analytics applications and tools. The JDM 1.0 standard was developed under the Java Community Process as JSR 73. As of 2006, the JDM 2.0 specification is being developed under JSR 247.
Lists some implementations also, although it looks like it may be a dead duck.