Java programming is a hot skill in the IT market. New technologies and new languages are being developed every so often, but Java evolves with the times and is still very much a relevant language today. If you didn’t get a chance to learn it at school, what’s the best way to learn Java now?
Why Learn Java?
There are a few reasons why learning Java is a good idea:
- It’s a popular language, so it’s helpful for job hunting
- It will look good on your resume
- It integrates well with Oracle (as Oracle bought Sun Microsystems, who created Java, some time ago)
- It should be around for a while
- It allows you to demonstrate good programming habits such as objects, inheritance and scope.
Now that we’ve had a look at a few reasons why we should learn Java, let’s look at how we can learn this language.
There are a few methods that may be the best way to learn Java, which are similar to learning any new programming language.
Learn Java Using A Textbook
Learning a language using a textbook is an old-school way of doing it. It’s the way it was done before the Internet became what it is today.
Textbooks were (and still are) one of the most comprehensive sources of learning a new programming language. They contain explanations of concepts, code samples, exercises, all broken up into different topics. However, they may not be the best way to learn Java these days.
Fortunately, if you’re learning from a textbook, you don’t need to carry it around to different classes. You can use it at home. Or, if you buy an eBook version, you don’t even need the physical book!
Taking a Short Course
Another method of learning Java is by taking a short course. There are many courses out there that teach specific programming languages. You can find one nearby, perhaps at a college, and enrol.
The advantage of this method is that you have other students in the course that all aim to learn the same thing. This can help with solving problems and asking questions about areas you’re stuck in. It’s also a good way to meet people.
It’s also a short course, so you could complete the required topics in a few weeks or months. No need to spend years getting a degree if this is all you need! It could be the best way to learn Java, if you like group learning and don’t have a lot of time.
Learn As Part Of A Degree
Getting a degree in IT is a bit more involved than a short course. It’s a similar concept, but it’s longer and there are more topics.
If you’re interested in software development overall, or other areas of IT, you can enroll in a degree that’s relevant.
Make sure that there are some Java subjects available for the course that you can take. Some degrees have this subject as an introductory topic, and some also offer more advanced Java programming topics.
Similar to a short course, the benefits of getting a degree to learn Java include meeting other like-minded people who can help with the coursework and share common interests. You also have the group to motivate you to learn. It also includes other subjects which you may be interested in.
The drawback of this is that it takes a while to complete. Depending on the degree, it can take anywhere from 2 years to 4 years, longer if you don’t pass subjects and need to repeat them.
Using An Online Course or Website
With the widespread use of the Internet, it’s become easier to offer education online for many topics. A possibility for the the best way to learn Java is an online course, as well as how to learn other programming languages.
As Java is one of the more popular languages, there are a lot of courses out there that you can use to learn from. I’ve created my very own course for learning SQL, and there are others who have created video courses for other languages, including Java.
If you’re not interested in a video-based course, you can learn using audio, or even text-based. There are many resources for these methods out there.
There is an excellent alternative to online courses, especially when you need to deal with specific assignments.
The Best Way To Learn Java
…is to find a method that works with them.
Do you prefer learning in a group environment, or by yourself? Do you prefer text, or multimedia? These, and many other questions, can help you to work out the best way to learn Java that suits you, and gives you the results you want.
What method do you want to use to learn Java? Post your answer in the section below!