CAREER GROWTH
HOW TO BECOME A SUCCESSFUL JAVA DEVELOPER
JUNE 30, 2020
Java developers are high in demand, but how do you stand out and become successful among millions of other developers?
KEY POINTS:
- Java is one of the most popular programming languages in the world. Because of that, many people opt to become java developers.
- With millions of java developers worldwide, you need to take some extra steps to become successful and stand out among the crowd
- Read on to find out what you can do to become a successful java developer
Developers are constantly needed by all kinds of businesses and organizations, and programming skills are high in demand. One of the most common developer companies look for are Java Developers. But how do you stand out from the competition? If you want to become a successful java developer, it isn’t enough to just know how to code.
Java is one of the top programming languages in 2020. It’s used by big companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, eBay among many others. There is also an estimated 7.6 million java developers in the world, as of 2019. So how do you become successful? How can you get that much needed edge?
Start with Java 8
No, Java 8 is not the latest update, but Java SE 8 is the preferred production standard. It’s easy to be overwhelmed with all the information and recent updates of Java. The best thing you can do is start with a single version, focus on that, and then grow from there once you’re comfortable and familiar. If you’re going to start anywhere, start with Java 8.
Learn Core Java SE and Java EE
A good place to start is with Core Java (Java SE) and master it if you can. Learn the basic concepts such as loops, arrays, and operators along with general purpose API’s. It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with OOP’s concepts. Practice until you are able to write the syntax with no basic errors
After you learn Core Java, move on to Java EE (Enterprise Edition). A lot of people like to refer to this as “Advanced Java”. Learning EE will allow you to work on web development with additional features like distributed computing and web services.
Make mini projects
After learning and mastering the basics, practice by creating mini projects with servlets and JSP. Combine what you’ve learned from Java SE and Java EE with basic front-end technologies (HTML/CSS/JavaScript) to make mini projects. You can use this as practice or add it to your portfolio.
Learn Hibernate and Spring Frameworks
To become a well-rounded java developer, you need to be sure to learn the Java frameworks as well. Popular ones include Hibernate and Spring. Most companies use Spring frameworks like Spring Boot or Spring Cloud, while Hibernate is popular for mapping a domain object-oriented model to a relational database.
The best java programmers don’t just know java, but they know the frameworks as well. Frameworks will help you get more done quicker, and in a world where everything needs to be instant, this can become one of your greatest advantages.
Learn what you can about logging
Logging is how you keep programs running smoothly after you launch. Even if it isn’t directly related to the development process, it can be helpful to the quality and security of your work. Logging involves keeping track of its real-time status - including errors, bugs, and even cyber attacks so you can ensure that your applications are secure.
Logging can help you experience less problems as well as solve them faster, which, as we mentioned earlier, getting things done quickly can be a huge advantage.
Join code camps, challenges, hackathons, webinars, online courses…
…and the list goes on. Joining code camps, challenges, and hackathons can put your knowledge to the test using real-world problems. Through these events, you can learn how to solve problems while collaborating with other developers. There you can share ideas, tips, tricks, and anything that can help you grow your skills.
This is the same with bootcamps, webinars, or online courses. Even if you do already know the fundamentals, joining online courses will give you the chance to practice, practice, practice. Who knows, you might even learn something new. Besides, with how fast technology is evolving, you may need to learn about all the latest updates anyway.
Bonus: Learn other languages
Just because you’re aiming to become a java developer, doesn’t mean it should be the only language you learn. Being well-versed in other languages can help you become a well-rounded developer. After all, you will be working with other programs, infrastructures, and even developers. Knowing other languages can help.
If you want to become a successful java developer, learn other JVM languages like Scala, Kotlin, Groovy, Clojure, and others.
Looking for java jobs?
Browse through our job board to see all the latest jobs in the Philippines that you can apply to, or click here to find java developer jobs.
You can also learn more about being a Back End Developer from our Career Guide. Learn what they do, skills you’ll need, and how much you can earn.
JUNE 30, 2020