How to become a Java Developer

Becoming a Java Developer is an in-demand career path. It requires deep expertise in Java and a strong network to carry you along. Here are some resources to help you on your journey.

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Why should you become a 
Java Developer?

Java Developer

Demand for experts in Java is growing rapidly. Companies are looking for people with deep expertise in the field of Java to help them build their products and services.

As a result, Java Developers are in high demand and command high salaries. According to leading sources, the median salary for a Java Developer is $100,000 and a senior Java Developer can earn up to $130,000. Even entry-level positions can command great salaries.

No wonder that interest in a career in Java is growing rapidly. Explore the resources below to learn more about how to become a Java Developer.

Best books to build Java understanding.

A well-written and thorough book can be an amazing path to build deeper understanding and also act as a handbook as you discover the internet's vast resources.

These are our and our experts top picks to get started building career-relevant skills.

Effective Java

Java has changed dramatically since the previous edition of Effective Java was published shortly after the release of Java 6. This Jolt award-winning classic has now been thoroughly updated to take full advantage of the latest language and library features. The support in modern Java for multiple paradigms increases the need for specific best-practices advice, and this book delivers.

Test Driven: TDD for Java Developers

In test driven development, you first write an executable test of what your application code must do. Only then do you write the code itself and, with the test spurring you on, you improve your design.

Java Performance

Coding and testing are often considered separate areas of expertise. In this comprehensive guide, author and Java expert Scott Oaks takes the approach that anyone who works with Java should be equally adept at understanding how code behaves in the JVM, as well as the tunings likely to help its performance.

Head First Java

Learning a complex new language is no easy task especially when it s an object-oriented computer programming language like Java. You might think the problem is your brain. It seems to have a mind of its own, a mind that doesn't always want to take in the dry, technical stuff you're forced to study.

Clean Code

Even bad code can function. But if code isn’t clean, it can bring a development organization to its knees. Every year, countless hours and significant resources are lost because of poorly written code. But it doesn’t have to be that way.

Head First Design Patterns

Using the latest research in cognitive science and learning theory to craft a multi-sensory learning experience, Head First Design Patterns uses a visually rich format designed for the way your brain works, not a text-heavy approach that puts you to sleep.

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Courses to deepen your Java skills.

These days, courses are no longer a sequence of videos. They are usually accompanied by projects and a learning community, keeping you accountable and on the path.

Our experts recommend these courses, from free selections to paid programs.

CodeGym

There are tons of good books on the Internet, but you won't become a programmer by reading books. To learn Java and become a programmer, you need to write a lot of code. CodeGym is an online Java programming course consisting of 80% practice and 20% of the essential Java theory. This is what you…

Java Fundamentals

This course provides complete coverage of the Java programming language and serves as a strong foundation for all Java-based development environments including client-based, server-side, and Android.

Java Masterclass 2025: 130+ Hours of Expert Lessons

Gain real-world experience with OOP, coding exercises, and problem-solving for job-ready Java development skills

Java Programming for Complete Beginners

Learn Core Java Skills including the lastest version of Java

Get help with your learning journey

Learning through online courses can be challenging. Get 1:1 guidance from an experienced mentor who can help you stay accountable and answer your questions along the way.

Project Development Using JAVA for Beginners - 2024

Learn Java from scratch and become Software Engineer.

Java from Zero to First Job, Practical Guide, 2000+ examples

Java Core, TDD, Streams, Lambdas, JPA/Hibernate, SQL, Build Tools, Git, Web Servers, HTML,Servlets, JSP, Spring Boot etc

Top Java Certifications

Mastering the fundamentals of Java will help you earn valuable certifications. Our expert mentors can guide you through the certification process and help strengthen your knowledge.

Oracle Java Training and Certification

Hosted by education.oracle.com

Gain a competitive advantage by learning and getting certified as a Java Developer with Oracle. Learn how to build highly functional, reliable, portable, and secure applications with training created by Oracle's Java experts, who are at the forefront of high-tech solutions in the world of J…

Java Certification Coaching

Hosted by mentorcruise.com

Consider reaching out to a coach specialized in Java certifications. They can help you prepare for your exam, and provide you with the necessary resources to succeed. MentorCruise is the best place to find a coach for your Java certification. Here are a few top picks:

Oracle Certified Expert, Java EE 6 Web Component Developer

Hosted by whizlabs.com

Prove your knowledge to build, analyze, and design web applications that suit any Java EE 6 application server with Oracle Certified Expert, Java EE 6 Web Component Developer certification.

Prices start at US$16.

Oracle Java Training and Certification

Hosted by education.oracle.com

Gain a competitive advantage by learning and getting certified as a Java Developer with Oracle. Learn how to build highly functional, reliable, portable, and secure applications with training created by Oracle's Java experts, who are at the forefront of high-tech solutions in the world of J…

Spring Certified Professional 2024

Hosted by vmware.com

The Spring Certified Professional certification validates a candidate's expertise with major features of Spring and Spring Boot and the candidate’s ability to apply Spring’s features to quickly build and deliver production ready applications. It is part of Spring Academy Pro subscription, t…

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Hello, I'm Ben! I've spent the majority of my career as a Software Engineer at Microsoft. I'm passionate about open source, crypto and the future of the web. My day job is spent working on a range of client-side javascript/typescript, mostly related to service workers and react.js. I also have …

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Hi 👋 I am Mo. As a Senior Software Engineer, I work with a talented team of engineers and designers to build scalable applications. I have over 8 years of experience in software engineering, with expertise in React, Node.js, and Databases. I also serve as a technical lead and a …

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My favorite thing about programming is that it's accessible to everyone and I love helping people understand just how easy programming can be. I've helped developers in all different places in life, everywhere from getting their first job, to navigating difficult communication with their managers, to getting a great new …

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The Java must-reads you shouldn't miss.

Key articles and posts of industry experts can help you get a better picture of what you are getting into.

In our opinion, these are some must-reads you really shouldn't miss.

Java Coding Tips

As Java offers so many features and options to the developers, people are sometimes lured into learning too many things in too little time. As a result of this, they get ‘bits and pieces’ knowledge of a few options that Java offers, but their basics hang on a loose thread.

Trust me when I say this, Java is one programming language which is easy if you have paid attention to the simple basics, however; it can be frustrating if you get greedy and try to take the shorter route forward.

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Most Essential Coding Interview Questions

On the way to your first coding interview? This is a collection of some of the most common coding, algorithm and engineering questions. Your perfect preparation for your interview!

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Opportunities and projects in the Java space.

In the end, advancing your career is all about getting the right opportunities at the right time and a good portion of luck.

These are some interesting things going on in the Java space and you probably don't want to miss them.

Get into open-source

The world thrives on open-source software and this is no exception. Core contributors to core libraries and fast-growing tech like React, scikit-learn, Bitcoin and TensorFlow prove their abilities by going into the inner workings of a framework to improve it. For many companies, that's a desirable skill!

These projects are always looking for fresh faces. Grab an issue from the issue board or review a PR to get started!

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Build your own app

For many years, Java was the one programming language you could use to build mobile applications. While today, you can use a wider variety of technologies, Google still builds on the tech.

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