Google Maps Engine Java API Basics

[user1667016 via StackOverflow]

I had an application which created maps and added placemarks using the old deprecated, and now dead as of a few weeks ago, gdata Java API's. Looking for a replacement, Google Maps Engine with the Java API seems it's nearest replacement. However, it seems way more complex than the previous API to just add a few placemarks. I have followed the Tutorial here (Java version);

https://developers.google.com/maps-engine/documentation/tutorial-create-map

But i'm getting a little lost with it.

Can someone point me in general direction (with example code please) of the best way to add (programmatically) a list of placemarks to a map and then share that map to a private list of users? The examples which load layers of data from files, does not seem to fit the simple use I need it for.

With regards to sharing, here is seems to suggest you share the map, much like a gdrive document;

https://support.google.com/mapsengine/answer/3164737

but when I actually look at the Map in map engine, I can't see any share options like that, just publish and unpublish?

Just to sum up what I'm trying to do;

From a server application, create number of maps, with a number of placemarks on each. Share these maps privatly with a given set of users, so a URL can be sent to these uses to view the maps.

Thanks in advance.

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