A senior Java developer and Java tutor at Learning Tree International programming courses.
Programming is one of the most relevant skills to learn if you want to stay up-to-date in the modern-day job market. According to statistics, the demand for tech specialists is skyrocketing — by 2030, we will be over 85 million professionals short to cover the needs of the field.
If you decided to start a journey in software development, you might get turned off by hundreds of tutorials, courses, and resources. Java, for one, has so many learning materials to offer — yet, students often struggle to prioritize them and end up burning out because they took on too much too soon.
In this post, I will take a look at my y courses for Java learners — you’ll find out how much time they take to complete, what are their advantages and drawbacks, and how to fit these into one systematic curriculum.
There’s an ongoing debate in the programming community as to which language a student should learn when he has the basic hang of HTML and CSS. From C++ to Python and Golang, developers suggest different starting points for programming students.
Personally, I’ve always been a part of Java-as-the-first-language-gang, and here is why:
Now that I covered the key benefits of learning Java and you are confident about committing to mastering the language, it’s time to talk about learning resources. Personally, I enjoy learning using online courses — I’ve found more than a handful of well-structured and interactive ones.
Here are my favorite learning resources that both Java developers and advanced learners can learn a ton from.
Platforms supported: desktop, Android
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Codegym is a Java learning platform that offers an in-depth look at the programming language. Learning programming might seem boring — however, there’s no other way to process the concepts of the language other than by doing.
If you are anything like me — juggling a full-time job and other commitments, setting time aside only to code sounds too good to be true. That’s why being able to code on a smartphone, with a built-in IDE comes in handy.
Other than that, Codegym is gamified — all classes are grouped in levels. The desire to level up as fast as possible is a powerful motivation that keeps you going through the highs and the lows of Java learning.
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Platforms supported: desktop, iOS, Android
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As one of the largest online education platforms out there, Udemy has a broad selection of Java courses. Here are my favorite certification programs the platform hosts:
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Platforms supported: desktop, iOS, Android
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For many students, understanding Java is limited to getting the hang of APIs and syntax. That’s why many miss out on an important concept of the language — understanding design patterns.
I believe that mastering design patterns makes a huge difference in a developer’s day-to-day efficiency, reducing the amount of time needed to complete projects and keep them running after the release. That’s why I’ve been looking for a decent resource on design patterns for years and finally found this Pluralsight course.
To start with, it will debunk your OOP and design misconceptions. If you didn’t know that the object with the most data should do the most work or that you shouldn’t request help from data in the first place, these are a couple of insights that already make a difference in the way you structure your work. There’s more but you might want to check them out on your own.
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Platforms supported: desktop, Android, iOS
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If you are learning Java to improve the way you are running your business and solve hands-on problems, check out this Coursera program. Other than teaching you the basics of the language, the course encourages programming students to think like developers. It features plenty of quizzes that require problem-solving and the ability to find the right tool to accomplish a set goal.
Take a look at the main topics the program covers:
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Platforms supported: desktop
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Helsinki MOOC on Java is praised by thousands of developers all over the world. If you are a programming student, you will love this one since it follows the academic curriculum closely.
Other than learning the theory of Java, you can test your skills by completing projects in a built-in IDE. Since the tasks are verified instantly, writing code and getting it graded feels like playing a game. I only wish that the course helped students use their problem-solving skills rather than just getting the “muscle memory” of Java — but, as for now, I have to accept MOOC what it is.
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Although the staggering number of courses and Java learning platforms you can find online can be a double-edged sword, at the end of the day, modern-day students are lucky to have so many resources to rely on. When choosing the right resources for learning, make sure the course matches your level of Java proficiency.
Take your time to try out the platforms listed above and share your favorites in the comments.