Best Free Java Resources & Tutorials

Many professionals are eager to learn Java but hesitate because of the perceived up-front costs. Fortunately, Java is free to download, as are many frameworks and libraries that Java coders find useful. There is also a surprising amount of free resources available to help beginners get the hang of this exciting program.

Read on to learn more about the different types of free resources and tutorials available to help you learn Java.

What is Java?

Java is both an object-oriented programming language and a software platform in itself. Its creators designed it as a “write once, run anywhere” tool. It is portable, scalable, and adaptable. An app created in Java can function across multiple platforms and over distributed networks. This flexibility makes the Java language widely useful and Java coders highly desirable to employers. Professions that use Java include Web Developer, Mobile App Developer, User Experience Designer, Data Scientist, Game Designer, and Laboratory Scientist.

Java’s modular nature allows developers to take existing pieces of code that are useful to them and then combine those modules in a new context for a new purpose. Also, programs in Java do not need to be compiled because the virtual Java Runtime Environment tool interprets the code and translates it for the computer you are using. Java’s portable and adaptable nature allows it to serve a wide range of use cases. For this reason, it has become the chosen tool of key players in the technology space: for example, the Android operating system is based on Java code. In addition to being critical for mobile app development, Java is also a crucial skill for Web Developers. It is also used for data science, game design, user experience design, and scientific applications. Many employers are eager to hire Java coders because the language is highly flexible, with many possible use cases and adaptations to new contexts.

Read more about what Java is and why you should learn it. 

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. 

Free Online Courses in Java Basics

If you’re looking for an introduction to Java, there are several free online courses available. Coursera has a free Introduction to Java course, where you’ll learn the operators and syntax necessary for simple coding in Java. There’s also a free basics course available from Udemy, designed for absolute beginners in coding. You can take free introductory Java courses from freeCodeCamp or Udacity as well.

Java Video Tutorials

A range of free video tutorials for Java is available. Depending on how much time you want to spend and how in-depth you want to go in your initial studies, you can choose anything from introductory videos of under an hour to comprehensive tutorial series with tens or even hundreds of hours of material. If you pursue the video tutorial route, make sure you use recent content, ideally fewer than six months old. You’ll also want to opt for interactive videos that have you practice coding examples over presentation-style videos with only slides and a voiceover.

If you’re interested in learning Java for web development, check out Noble Desktop’s web design and development video playlist.

Java Community Resources

Java has a lively, supportive international community of coders. This community can be an excellent resource for you as you study Java. Particularly if you are studying Java through a self-paced course with no live instruction, you’ll want to make sure you use community sites like the Java Programming Forums to ask questions and get clarification when you’re unsure you understand something.

Noble Resources for Learning Java

Noble’s blog has some great resources that can help you in your study of Java. You may not be sure yet what you want to use Java for. If so, this piece on web development vs. software engineering may help you decide. Are you studying Java because you want to pursue web development? Then you’ll probably find these articles on languages to learn for web development and the most useful back end programming languages helpful in planning your studies. You can also check out Noble’s post on general tips for learning to code.

Read more about learning Java on Noble’s Learn Hub.

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 is an object-oriented programming language and a software platform
• With Java, you can code across platforms and environments
• There are several free introductory Java courses available online
• Video tutorials allow students to follow along in real-time
• Java’s supportive international community of coders is a great learning resource
• Noble’s Java Learn Hub can provide you with more free information
• You can receive comprehensive Java training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop