It doesn’t need to be hard to learn Java Programming by yourself. There are many resources available for independent study and practice. You can find many websites that provide hands-on Java training and help you program Java, regardless of your age. Learn how to make your first steps towards becoming a programmer.
As a Java tutor, there are many reasons people learn programming from Java training. Great passion is one reason, but it’s not the only reason.
People of various ages and occupations sometimes feel like they are constantly shifting from one foot or the other. You may feel like the “educational saga” at university is over but are still passionate about your job. You may love your job but find that it offers you far less perspectives than what you thought. You may simply want to step out of your comfort zone and master a difficult skill like programming.
The greatest obstacle to learning is time. The lack of time, or more accurately, time, is the biggest obstacle to learning. Because of the pace of life, many people find it difficult to dedicate a set amount of time per day to studying. Self-education is a method that allows you to learn as you go, and can adjust your schedule accordingly.
It’s also very effective in learning Java programming. First things first…
What is the point of Java programming?
Isn’t Java a saturated market? Java is losing its popularity/dying/too difficult to learn as a second language, etc. No. The answer is no.
According to global rankings such as TIOBE, PYPL and GitHub’s Octoverse etc., Java is (and will continue to be) one of the prevailing programming languages.
Java is a flexible, cross-platform programming language that supports a wide range of libraries. It can be used to help you create concise solutions for nearly all tasks, whether they are for small or medium enterprises, scientific developments, mobile program development, or game development. Java is constantly updated and provides new features to developers. The newest version of Java was presented this march, and the creators aren’t going to stop. :
Java is a mature and modern programming language. Although Java is not the easiest language to learn (although you don’t need to be a math genius in order to use it), once you are proficient with it, you will be highly sought after.
Okay, that sounds great, but am I too old to do this?
This is an acceptable question, especially when you consider the risks. Most likely, you don’t know the answer right now.
- How much time you can devote to learning
- How difficult it would be to master programming
- Which sources of learning are most effective and which ones are not?
It’s absurd to think that you would waste six months to a whole year on something impossible, especially if your in your 30s, 40s, or 50s.
Believe it or not, learning is possible regardless of your age. Lack of motivation is. A lack of motivation is also a sign of self-distrust. You’ll be surprised at the success stories of Java programmers who started in their 30s and 40s. I don’t want to sound cheesy, I actually know the guys and recently wrote a post about why you’re never too old to learn Java. It might be worth reading to gain some inspiration.
How can self-education be successful?
Many variables affect your ability to learn Java by joining Java training. Your programming and educational background, how much time you are willing to dedicate to learning, and your future career plans (Mobile or Web development). QA automation? Are you looking for a career in an enterprise or startup? etc. etc.
Sorry to say that there is no set term for apprenticeship. It takes 3-6 months to learn Java programming, based on the experiences of students and programmers. These are the basic rules to follow:
Rule #1
Your goals in programming should be clear. This will allow you to quickly move from learning the basics to mastering the advanced technologies.
Rule #2
Your learning goals will determine the course you choose. You should begin by installing basic development tools (JDK, JRE — IntelliJ Idea, Eclipse, or NetBeans), learning Java syntax, Java core and most popular collections, and understanding the basics of multithreading. Later, explore commonly used APIs like JSP, JDBC and JUnit. Pay attention to design patterns and data structures, algorithms, Git, Maven and other popular tools such as Git and Maven.
Rule #3
Balance theory and practice. Although it may appear that you will do a lot of research, the truth is that you will need to practice at least three to four times as much. It is the most important piece of advice you can get.Every day, you should code.
Where can I learn Java basics?
You can read, watch, and Google everything you don’t know. I recommend this book, out of dozens of books about programming in general and Java specifically:
- Head First Java Bert Bates and Kathy Sierra. This is probably the best Java self-teaching book because it’s very simple and helps to understand the logic (and basics!) of Java programming.
- Java: A Beginner’s Guide Herbert Schildt If you are looking for a more traditional explanation of the subject, this book is for you.
- Core Java Volume I? Core Java Volume II Cay S. Horstmann. This is my opinion, a great resource for students at both the beginning and midpoint of any learning experience. It has every chance of becoming your table-book, even after you have mastered Java programming.
You can try video tutorials to see if it works for you. Personally, I don’t like them and prefer the practice. There’s a great set of Java video courses on EdX, from the introduction to Java programming to advanced subjects. YouTube also offers Java tutorials. Here’s the fresh Java tutorial free CodeCamp.
Where can I learn Java programming?
My students are always encouraged to code as often as possible. These are the best resources I have found for unlimited coding.
- CodeGym An online course in Java programming that is 80% based on practice. This course can be used to learn Java from scratch and includes programming tasks in the first lesson.
- CodeCademy This course will help you develop the technical skills necessary to do a real programming job. It also includes lots of practice.
- Codewars This is an excellent place to practice advanced programming and sharpen your coding skills. It’s also a great resource for Java basics and gaining the minimum amount of programming experience.
Final words
Although programmers are often portrayed in mass culture as grumpy, lumberjack-bearded men who do not want to interact with other people, it isn’t true. It’s at least partially false. Communication is key. You will not be able to learn if you don’t interact with other students or experienced programmers.
Although Java 8 is still widely used by most people, new versions are released every six months. New features include functional programming capabilities, local variable type types inference, switch expressions and additions to the Stream API. There are also new factory methods for Collections and text blocks. I will be presenting my favourite features since Java 8 and giving examples to show how they can be used.
You can find help and hints to improve your coding skills by using the Java and Programming subreddits on Reddit.com, StackOverflow, and CodeGym help sections.
Ask questions. Communication is key to your success.