What is Java?

First developed in 1991, Java remains extremely popular and widely used today. It is both an object-oriented programming language and a software platform. Developers value Java because it is portable across platforms and adaptable to various contexts. Businesses appreciate Java developers because of the versatility of their skills. Java is the standard for enterprise computing, employed by 90% of Fortune 500 companies. Several key technologies of today, such as the Android mobile operating platform, run on Java. Learning Java can help one become qualified for several careers, including Web Developer, Data Scientist, and User Experience Designer.

In this overview, you’ll learn more about what Java is, what it can do, who uses it, and how to learn it so you can determine how to add this skill to your professional toolbox.

What Can You Do with Java?

Knowing Java means you can code across multiple operating systems and hardware architectures without modifying your programs for a new environment. Because it is an object-oriented programming language, Java allows you to create modular units of code that you can reuse in any Java program, even across platforms and environments. You can quickly adapt code created for one use case to apply in another, as Java is highly flexible and adaptable for novel contexts. So as exciting new technologies arise, your knowledge of Java will remain relevant and desirable to employers.

Using Java also speeds up the development cycle. This is due to its unique interpretation process, which allows developers to sidestep much of the routine testing and debugging necessary when coding in other programming languages. You can use the Java Runtime Environment to keep your applications robust with its automatic memory management. The JRE also supports robust graphic interfaces through multithreading. Another advantage is that its built-in virus and tamper protection keeps your code secure.

With Java, you can build mobile applications for the Android platform and, in some cases, for iOs. If you’re into big data, you can use Java to analyze large datasets with open-source tools like Hadoop and Spark. Java’s “write once, run anywhere” functionality makes it perfect for writing cloud-based applications and powering data collection within them. Though machine learning is typically associated with Python, libraries such as Deep Learning for Java and MLib make it easy to take advantage of Java’s speed and security by providing a stable environment for deep learning or machine learning processes. Another great application for Java is programming smart household devices. Java is also useful for game design, both mobile and desktop. 

How Do You Get Java? How Much Does it Cost?

You can get Java as a free download from the Java website. The most commonly used Java libraries are also available for free. You can find many of these through the open-source Apache Commons Project. (A product is called “open source” when the original code used to construct it is publicly available for anyone to reuse.) Java developers are also actively constructing new libraries all the time; as your Java projects grow more sophisticated, you should keep your eye out for new tools that could be useful.

What Are the Benefits of Learning Java?

Java’s portability makes those who learn it highly versatile coders. Once you know Java, you can code across platforms and environments without learning a new language. After you create a module of code in Java, you can use it over and over whenever you want to, without having to rewrite it for a new context. Business owners often choose Java, not only due to its flexibility but also because it is relatively easy to learn, especially for those with previous coding experience. So, once you navigate that learning curve, you’ll have many employment options to choose from. Java is useful in many careers, from web development to data science to game design. It is particularly important for those who want to develop mobile apps because it is the base language for the Android mobile operating system.

From the coder’s perspective, working in Java is efficient because the Java Runtime Environment interprets the code for the computer your app is running on, saving you several steps that would be necessary when using other programming languages. The JRE also has built-in protections to make your code more secure. Java’s cross-platform flexibility makes it highly adaptable to new use cases, so if you want to work on exciting new technologies, your Java skills will likely apply there. 

Read more about why you should learn Java.

Java Careers

As you consider learning Java, you’re probably curious about what professions it would help you become qualified for. Since Java is portable across many platforms and use cases, it’s a desirable skill in a variety of careers.

Professions that use Java include:

• Software Developer/Web Developer: Java is a crucial skill for Software Developers due to its versatility. Businesses find employees who can code in Java highly desirable because they can have the same developers work on a wide range of projects. Programmers can use Java for everything from back end web development to writing code for hardware controller boards like the Arduino. The outlook for job growth for software developers is strong, 25% higher than the current average.

• Data Scientist: Java is useful for data science because of the free frameworks and libraries available. The Hadoop framework allows Data Scientists to work across networks or clusters of computers when analyzing data. Java’s open-source libraries include several that facilitate deep learning processes.

• Mobile App Developer: Given that the Android mobile operating platform runs on Java, knowing how to code in this language is crucial for many Mobile App Developers. They use Java to build native apps and as a flexible tool to create modular sections of code that can be run both on desktop and mobile.

• Game Designer: Java allows game designers to build cross-platform games cheaply and efficiently. Naturally, Java is a key tool for designers who develop their games as mobile apps, including mobile-only games and those created for both desktop and mobile. But the designers of purely desktop games sometimes use Java as well, especially if they want their games to run fast. However, console game designers typically do not use Java because the Virtual Machine that makes Java code work is not installed on most video game consoles. 

• User Experience (UX) Designer: While UX Designers are quite different from developers, they sometimes use coding to create basic prototypes of the apps or websites they design. Knowing how to code in Java allows a UX Designer to work across multiple platforms, which is helpful in the extremely varied projects that can come up in user experience design.

• Laboratory Scientist: Most scientists who create custom programs for laboratory analysis do so in Java. It is currently the industry standard in the sciences.

How to Learn Java

Live classes in Java, whether in-person or live online, allow students to ask questions as they come up and receive immediate feedback from instructors. Noble Desktop’s Classes Near Me tool can show you several options for live instruction. If you prefer to study on-site, the tool lets you see in-person Java classes in your area. Noble also has a list of live online Java courses you can take from anywhere. 

Some students prefer a self-paced, asynchronous course that fits better into their busy lives. If that’s you, take a look at these options for on-demand Java courses. They include classes at varying skill levels that cover various topics related to Java. The lessons are typically in video format, with some requiring a subscription to a particular school’s platform.

To learn more about Java for free, take a look at Noble’s video playlist on web design and development. If you prefer reading over watching videos, check out this hub of Java articles, tutorials, and resources. For a broader view of the process you’re seeking to begin, you can read this Noble article on learning to code. You may also want to look at Noble’s comprehensive list of available Java classes.

Read the full guide on how to learn Java. 

A Brief History of Java

James Gosling, Mike Sheridan, and Patrick Naughton first created Java at Sun Microsystems in 1991. Their goal for Java was to allow developers to “write once, run anywhere.” Early web browsers quickly incorporated Java applets. These mini-apps could open from a browser, then run on the computer outside of the browser itself. Java 2, initially released in 1998, included several configurations optimized for different platforms, including mobile. 

Most Java implementations have been free, while the company has gained revenue from specialized products such as the Java Enterprise System, a software infrastructure designed to support enterprise applications. The 2006 release of the Java Virtual Machine as free, open-source code was a significant milestone facilitating Java’s increasingly widespread use. Ultimately, Java became the official language for the Android mobile operating system. Today, it is one of the most popular languages in mobile app development, game design, and scientific applications.

Comparable Programming Languages

One programming language comparable to Java is Python. Both Java and Python are object-oriented languages, which makes them highly adaptable. “Object-oriented” means that a programming language is organized around “objects,” units of code that hold data. This key characteristic puts Python and Java in contrast with programs like C and JavaScript, which are centered on functions and logic.As object-oriented programming languages, both Java and Python are modular and allow the reuse of code in new environments. Another advantage of both is that they are free and open source.

There are also crucial differences between Java and Python. While Python is a dynamically typed language, meaning that the code is checked for type errors when it’s run, Java is statically typed, so the type checking takes place at compile time. If there are type errors in a Java program, it will not compile.

Java tends to run more quickly than Python because of the differences in the compilation process. However, Python code has the advantage that it is more intuitively readable by humans than Java code, so some find it easier to learn. The TIOBE index of programming language popularity shows that Java remains more popular than Python as of 2019, but Python’s popularity is on the rise.

Learn Java with Hands-on Training at Noble Desktop

Noble Desktop offers several options for studying Java. Its small class sizes and expert instructors make for an ideal learning environment. And if you want to enhance your knowledge further, you can always retake the class—for free. With both in-person and live online options available, you can learn Java in whichever way best fits your needs.

Noble’s Java bootcamp is a great way to learn Java quickly and well. You can do the bootcamp either in-person or live online. This program teaches practical Java skills and the computer science principles that form the foundation of Java’s effectiveness. The course covers object-oriented programming, recursion, and data structures. You’ll also discover the secrets of the interpretation process that streamlines the creation of a new program in Java. By the end of the course, you’ll be ready to pass the Java SE 11 Programmer 1 Exam, helping you qualify for entry-level coding positions. In addition to the bootcamp, some of Noble’s other coding classes also include instruction in Java.

High school and college students can take summer Java classes through NextGen Bootcamp, Noble’s partner school. For those who can attend an in-person program in New York City, NextGen offers a Java programming summer camp. This 50-hour course culminates in each student creating a final project in Java, which they can include in their portfolio when applying for computer science programs. The camp also gives students a head start preparing for their AP Computer Science exam. Students who can’t make it to NYC have another option: NextGen’s live online summer Java program. Though different in the delivery method, this course offers the same content, final project, and exam preparation as the in-person course. 

Key Insights

• Java’s key advantage: it’s portable across platforms and applicable to a variety of use cases
• People who can code in Java are desirable employees because of this flexibility.
• Java is the base language of the Android mobile operating system and the industry standard for enterprise computing and scientific applications.
• Software developers, data scientists, mobile app designers, game designers, UX designers, and laboratory scientists use Java in their work.
• Java and many of its libraries are free and open source
• You can receive comprehensive Java training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop