CodeGym’s Guide to Effectively Learn Java

Is learning Java more like studying math or playing the piano?

You might be slightly surprised, but in this case, practice is more important than theory. Coding is a skill, which demands a constant improvement. Therefore, it is hard to learn programming in an ordinary way.

What could truly help you succeed at coding on Java?

Here you’ll find a few useful tips.

Why learning Java? Because it rules programming world

Java is one of the most popular programming languages that is used in creating web applications as well as platforms. In fact, it was intended for flexibility, therefore, letting developers write code which would run on any machine.

It is a mature, but constantly evolving language. The latest release was this fall, 2018, and another one is coming up in spring. Each version has different new features along with enhanced performance, that brings this programming language up to date with global business demands.

Java is a class-based, concurrent and object-oriented programming language. It helps programmers to make applications extensible, scalable and modular. In addition, the developers could take advantage of the Java libraries to implement the object-oriented design principles a lot more efficiently.

It is used in building platforms and applications for different devices such as laptops, computers, gaming consoles, car navigation systems, Blu-ray players, medical monitoring devices, lottery terminals, parking meters, and smartphones. As you can see, Java developers have lots of work to do, and this makes them highly sought.

Apart from development and security benefits, Java is considered to be an easy language for a beginner. Of course, if you arrange your education properly.

How NOT to spoil your Java learning experience

A theory is a must in almost every field of study. Ok, programming is not an exception. There are some points you should memorize to write code that actually compiles and works. But when you learn Java, a theoretical ground is like a coach outside the football field, and practice is like the whole team of players.

Only real practice, coding, problem-solving, etc. can ensure you an excellent result. Easy as breathing: you need to train for hundreds of hours to gain a victory. You might think that this example is a remote association, but actually, a game might be the most effective way of learning.

There are plenty of Java courses, and many of them at a premium price. But there is no chance to prepare for real work only through studying boring lectures and manuals. It’s like feeling confident while reading a book in a foreign language and then failing to say anything witty during a small talk with a native speaker. To become a “fluent” programmer, you need to code until you master this skill.

Here are few tips of successful learning Java, provided by CodeGym.cc (a gamified online Java course).

Tip #1. Make sure you have the right balance between theory and practice.

It’s not easy to “burden” yourself with a necessary amount of tasks. No one has that skill and knowledge at the beginning. Too complicated tasks slow down the education. And if they are too easy, it’s just a waste of time. Too little coding won’t make you a programmer. Too much coding… Wait, this is actually a good thing.

It’s always great to have a “coach” with an experience in Java programming, who will help you estimate the number and complexity of the tasks you need for the practical part of learning. What’s good in online courses, those “experienced coaches” are responsible for the content. How many coding is needed to get the first job?

At CodeGym.cc, it’s believed that one needs at least 300-500 hours of programming to apply for a Java Junior developer position. And that’s exactly why there are 1200+ coding tasks during the course.

Tip #2. Schedule your learning experience, set milestones, and achievable goals.

While learning, you will probably need numerous Java sources: books, videos, articles, guides. Therefore, it’s comfy to learn programming online. Everything you need is already on the web. But sometimes it’s so hard to will yourself into studying. And especially to find a proper amount of time.

Here’s a tip if you don’t want to “drown” in sources and feel like your progress is too slow. Choose one major platform where you will get the basics, estimate the time you’re ready to devote to studying daily or weekly and stick to the plan.

At CodeGym.cc, the whole course is divided into for quests, and each quest has 10 levels. It is easy to fell the progress as you level-up. Just set a comfort tempo and keep learning.

Tip #3. Make sure your education would be engaging and diverse to stay motivated.

As you know, “trusted sources” in studying can be extremely boring. Boredom is risky if you want to receive not the excellent marks, but the result — a coding skill.

Thankfully, many programming courses have adopted gaming features to make a learning experience much more engaging and interactive. Imagine that education can be an opposite to dull lectures and old books. It can be a fun game with a unique storyline and a certain goal. For example, at CodeGym.cc a player finds himself in a futuristic universe with robots, space travels, unique characters, and a goal: to level up his game character and pass four quests.

Tip #4. Communicate with other Java students and developers to keep up to date and study more effectively.

Have you ever heard about creative clusters? People of certain professions prefer to stick together to have a common field of knowledge, experience, and ideas. They are not competitors, because it’s a win-win for everybody: one gets even more skilled and productive if he works closely with like-minded people.

The same rule applies to online studying. You’ll progress faster, if you “hang out” with other students or, even better, with the graduates. They might help you to solve tricky tasks, advice a new source of studying, share their practical experience and give you a few tips, which will help you at work. At CodeGym.cc, there’s a global community of students and programmers, and it grows bigger day by day.

Tip #5. Never give up until you reach the main goal and become a Java developer.

Seriously. Use these tips, believe in yourself and stay focused on your goals and dreams.

Who knows, your career as a Java developer might be even more challenging, than you can imagine. But with a proper amount of practice during your studying, you’ll be ready for the action.