In the world of powerful open Internet resources like books, tutorials, libraries, Youtube videos, blogs, and programming courses, everybody is talking about online learning. Now you have everything to study fast and effectively, at your own pace.
However, if you’d like to make things even easier, you may wonder if there are any tips and tricks that may boost your learning how to program. And yes, there are certainly a lot of hints to make the whole process as quick and enjoyable as possible. Today I will tell you about some of the most popular ways to skyrocket your Java learning journey. I hope you’ll find something that will suit your very needs and stimulate your mind the best.
So, let’s get started!
Referring to a tip from Brian Knapp, a professional programmer and the author of the Code Career Genius blog, find something exciting that can sharpen your skill and keep you extra-motivated.
I highly recommend you to create your own project even when you’re somewhere in the middle of your learning path. By building a real-life Java project, you’ll get a practical grasp of the theory you’ve already learned in a very engaging way. Most likely, you’ll also see your strengths and weaknesses.
As a bonus, you’ll be able to include the projects in your CV in the future and significantly increase your chances of getting a job right after you finish learning. That’s because companies usually prefer candidates with at least a few coding projects in their portfolios since they show how you can apply your theoretical knowledge to practical tasks.
When you’re still studying, the best idea would be to take on a simple project like:
One of the most common mistakes beginner learners make is believing they can master Java programming mainly by reading Java books and tutorials. Still, no textbook can make you a great programmer. Only practice can! Try to devote at least a couple of hours to coding daily. It would be perfect to distribute 80% of your learning time on practical training and 20% on the theoretical part. Try to consume the information in small portions and then nail down your freshly-acquired knowledge with practice.
Where to start? You can download some additional tools or use Intellij IDEA to start writing your code. In the beginning, do some simple tasks to avoid getting overloaded with information and eventually lose your passion for Java. Ideally, you should find yourself a mentor or, at least, ask for feedback on professional Java forums.
Alternatively, you can use online courses or training platforms for Java learners that include tons of coding tasks and auto-check of your solutions. Among the wide variety of websites, I approve:
I bet that any successful programmer has learned a lesson that they should study regularly and don’t take long breaks. A gap will interfere with your progress and make you less organized, gradually dragging you back. Try to code regularly and don’t skip even a day or two of education, especially when you’re at the very beginning of your path. Also, try to soak new information in wise portions without learning everything at once. Start a new subject only when you’re done with the previous one.
That being said, staying organized and consistent as a programmer can sometimes be tough. And when you’re feeling about flipping the desk over and ending your learning process, the best idea would be to look for support from like-minded learners like you.
It’s natural to feel stuck at some point in your learning process. But it would be a big amiss to avoid looking for extra aid or fear asking questions. By collaborating with other beginners and fresh learners, you’ll get support, valuable suggestions, and Java programming hints.
If you don’t know where to start, I suggest referring to communities like GitHub, StackOverflow, HackerNews, SitePoint, as well as such Reddit channels as:
or
Slack channels:
— #Hashtag Developers
— #European Dev Explorer
— #DevOps Chat
Another hint to make the learning path a bit less winding is to read and learn from existing code. By learning from professionals and using their code as examples, you can become more confident in your skills and modify their style to develop your own. Among the open resources that let you glimpse into other developers’ thinking, I recommend GitHub, GitLab, Pluralsight, Free CodeCamp, or SourceForge.
Now you see how simplified learning Java can be. But is this a reason to set the bar too low and be content with the easiest things? Obviously, no. Never doubt your abilities, and don’t think that programming is a tough nut to crack for you. Even if you’re in your late 30-s, 40-s, and so on, you can give younger developers a run for their money. There is no age bar when it comes to learning Java, and there are lots of databases and online courses that aren’t bound to any age limits.
Yet, regardless of your age, don’t try to reach too many practicing methods at once. Learning several programming languages or completing several courses simultaneously is a big no-no since you may easily get overwhelmed with information and totally confused as a result. It’s better to build a step-by-step learning plan with one or two resources involved to succeed.
Though they sound a bit outdated, handwriting techniques can also help you stay more organized and concise. You will remember all the topics better with less chance of skill “amnesia” by making notes. Actually, when you write down some concepts or key theses, your thoughts flesh out, and your knowledge strengthens. To structurize your knowledge, you can take advantage of some old-school handwriting note techniques like:
Alternatively, you can gravitate towards digitalized notes and try different note-taking programs like NoteLedge, Evernote, Moo.do, and others.
Hopefully, all of the abovementioned hints and tricks will help you master the basics of Java easier and quicker. But what to do after the successful learning? The best thing is to keep on going and never stop.
Only by learning something new and keeping in step with evolving programming trends and the latest Java updates, you’ll be able to stand above the competition and get your place in the sun. Remember that there are no limits to perfection, and there will never be too much Java, so try to adopt new skills to become the best of the best in your industry!
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