How do Beginners Learn Java?

The first step to learning Java is to understand the nature and uses of this programming language. During their initial exploration, a new student should consider what aspects of Java they want to learn most. These learning goals will guide the kinds of courses and lessons they should pursue.

Next, new Java students will need to learn Java’s core concepts, terms, commands, syntax, and programming techniques. This study will be more challenging for coding novices, as they will also need to learn foundational programming concepts like ‘variables’, ‘syntax’, ‘loops’, and ‘algorithms’. These students will be better served by introductory Java classes that also cover basic computer science, explaining computing concepts through their implementations in Java. Both novices and experienced programmers will need to learn Java’s unique features and behaviors. As they progress, students will learn how to combine Java’s basic elements to create desired behaviors using particular coding techniques and structures. While completing these exercises, students may also learn to use integrated development environments (IDEs), which are editing programs with additional helpful features like guides and syntax checking.

After they have practiced each element and technique separately, students will learn to combine these parts into longer and more interesting programs. Depending on their course’s focus, students might create web, mobile, or desktop applications that perform a few basic but useful functions. Building off these examples, an instructor will then introduce students to the tools they need to create longer, more complex, and better-quality code. In particular, to progress past introductory-level or ‘vanilla’ coding, programmers must understand the use of Java frameworks, libraries of pre-written code objects that are referenced in programs to give them greater efficiency and utility. Introductory Java classes may introduce one or two common frameworks, but students should learn enough from these examples that they can understand and use other frameworks later. More advanced students also need to understand the use of coding and testing tools, which assist in the compilation and evaluation of Java programs.

As noted before, a student’s early study of Java could differ depending on their intended uses for the language. Classes on Java for web development will focus on the frameworks, interfaces, and techniques specific to web applications and possibly web servers. Classes on Java mobile applications will include frameworks for that purpose, which include touchscreen interface methods and graphics that adjust for different display types. However, aside from these use-specific lessons, most of what early Java students will learn will be applicable in any environment, thanks to Java’s general-purpose, platform-independent design.

Getting Started with Java

Learning Java does not require previous programming experience, but familiarity with coding concepts like variables and algorithms does reduce the difficulty of learning these concepts within Java. If a student has no prior coding knowledge, an introductory text or video on general computer science can increase their understanding and improve their early Java studies. Still, Java itself is relatively intuitive and straightforward, and any student can grasp its principles in time and learn to write Java code. 

Depending on a student’s intended uses of Java, they might also want to learn more about related technologies. Java coders focusing on web development will benefit from studying web design and particularly the web coding languages HTML and CSS. Some Java-based web development courses will expect this knowledge as a prerequisite. Learning more about web servers and database management is also useful when studying Java for web development. Those learning Java to create mobile applications should learn more about mobile devices, particularly their operating systems and input/output interfaces. Again, these specifics will usually be covered in topical advanced Java classes and professional Java training programs, but exploring them ahead of time helps students understand the relevant aspects of Java more quickly.

Most Java students will begin with a desktop computer as their primary platform for creating and testing Java code, and almost all personal computers have some kind of Java Runtime Environment (JRE) already installed. A JRE is a program that finishes compiling partially compiled Java code and runs it on that device, allowing the same general code to run on many platforms. Most computers also have a simple text editor which suffices for writing basic Java code. However, as they progress, students will be encouraged to learn and use integrated development environments (IDEs), programs that combine a text editor with helpful features like coding assistants, debuggers, and interfaces for compilation, testing, and collaborative tools. A student’s preferred IDE may depend on their intended uses for Java, as some environments better support certain tasks. Most paid Java classes prefer that students use a specific IDE and many classes provide download links for that preferred program. Some popular IDEs for Java include BlueJ, Eclipse, Visual Software, and IntelliJ IDEA. Finally, students will need Java Development Kit (JDK) software. Again, a formal class will generally recommend a preferred JDK, most likely the free kit available from Oracle’s website.

The First Steps When Learning Java

An introduction to Java first teaches the language’s underlying concepts: how it works, what it does, and how it compares to other kinds of computing. The instructor may give a general overview of the steps in creating a Java program, using simple examples spelled out step-by-step. They will also explain the tools that compile and run completed Java programs, including Java Development Kits (JDKs) and Java Runtime Environments (JREs). Other types of assistive software and tools for Java are not needed at first and are generally left for intermediate and advanced classes, although some early classes may introduce students to an integrated development environment (IDE) to get them used to using these helpful writing tools. 

From this grounding, an instructor can then explain the various elements that comprise Java code, including variables, commands, and syntactic structures. Students learn how to use various functional operations: defining and retrieving values, displaying text or graphics, performing calculations, reading and writing files, and triggering, repeating, or selecting other functions. Again, instructors will demonstrate these elements through code samples and exercises that ask students to create specific effects with what they’ve learned. Students soon progress to combining elements to cause more complex effects. Some of these combinatory functions initiate sequences of actions, repeat sequences, or build logical structures that guide the relationships between inputs and actions. The resulting structures, called algorithms, generate longer, more complex behaviors in programs.

While practicing these simple coding elements, students also use and learn Java development and runtime tools. For courses focused on specific uses of Java, such as web or mobile development, students will usually use tools particular to that work. For example, a Java class focused on mobile development is likely to use a JRE for Android, the most common operating system for mobile devices, and might also teach an Android-specific IDE like Jvdroid. 

To turn simple algorithms into useful programs, instructors then teach programming techniques that enable more elaborate data structures, graphical displays, and complex responses. Students practice these techniques by writing simple but practical programs like a calculator, clock, strategy game, or database system. These programs are still far from the products created by skilled coders, but they are functional Java code and teach students building blocks they can assemble into even more complex structures. This is literally true given Java’s use of object-oriented programming (OOP), as blocks of code can be defined as objects and ‘called’ for reuse elsewhere in the same program (or in the case of libraries and frameworks, added into other programs). Learning to create and use objects correctly is challenging, but mastering this technique is critical to efficient and effective Java coding. Students also learn how to add and use objects from Java frameworks to enable more advanced coding methods later.

Most introductory Java classes stop before teaching specific frameworks or other tools used by professional coders, such as build tools (which assist compilation), testing tools (which check if code will behave as intended), and collaborative software design tools (which track changes to shared code, save backups, and assist communication between programmers). By the time students can understand and require these tools, they are no longer ‘beginners’.

Free Java Tools for Beginners

Java has been a popular programming language for many years, and many creators have produced free online resources to help others learn Java. The most direct sources of free lessons are websites created specifically to teach Java. Oracle, Java’s current host and promoter, hosts Java Tutorials, a series of hypertext lessons teaching basic Java and some specialized topics. LearnJavaOnline.org is an interactive Java tutorial consisting of text lessons assisted by interactive coding exercises. CodeGym teaches Java online through an interactive experience that plays like a game, at no cost for basic lessons but charging fees for full access, group feedback, and a certificate of verification. 

More free Java tutorials are available online through coding schools, technical schools, and general education sites. Some of the best-regarded free Java courses are found on Codecademy, freeCodeCamp, Udemy, and Coursera. Students can also find free hypertext and interactive Java lessons on the University of Helsinki’s massive open online course (MOOC) site, edX, Geeks for Geeks, w3schools, DigitalOcean, and BeginnersBook. Free video tutorials are also available on YouTube, created by individual teachers or online schools like Noble Desktop. These free tutorials are especially useful to new students exploring Java, providing overviews, explanations, examples, and simple coding projects. However, free lessons provide little or no feedback. They cannot answer individual questions or provide alternate explanations, and only interactive sites provide any help fixing incorrect code, and that is limited to programmed responses. Students using free lessons must research answers and debug their code without expert assistance. Free tutorials also cannot confirm or certify student achievements. Overall, learning from such free resources takes more effort and time compared to paid, formal instruction.

Beginning Java students may also benefit from using a free integrated development environment (IDE). IDEs improve upon simple editing programs by adding advice, guides, hints, and wizards to assist users, plus testing environments to check a program’s behavior. Using a professional, popular IDE familiarizes novice programmers with that program specifically and IDEs in general, which is useful experience when progressing to more advanced, complex tasks. Popular free IDEs for Java include Eclipse, IntelliJ, NetBeans, BlueJ, jEdit, and VSCodium. However, note that these tools only assist coding. Without initial study and practice, most features in an IDE will be meaningless at best or confusing at worst. Students should start small, using simple editing functions, until they understand more about Java and can see where an IDE helps to visualize and simplify programming tasks.

Live Java Training for Beginners

Free resources are helpful as an early introduction to Java but have several drawbacks that limit their utility as students progress. Live instruction reduces the delays and frustrations that hamper students when studying alone and especially helps when learning to program. First, a live course is more likely to provide accurate and current content compared to pre-recorded tutorials, especially free resources. Next, a Java instructor is usually an experienced programmer and a skilled teacher, able to provide expert advice, alternate explanations, varied examples, clear answers, and diagnosis of coding errors. Receiving this guidance directly, in class, helps students master complex ideas faster. They will also avoid mistakes and misconceptions that multiply in longer coding tasks. Students also benefit from the presence of other students, both for mutual assistance and for practice collaborating on larger coding projects, valuable experience for a career in Java development. Live courses also typically include the most practice tasks and projects, which build experience and generate finished programs to feature in graduates’ starting portfolios. Many live classes include written materials that are useful as references after students complete their courses. Finally, many live classes give access and guidance for the software tools needed to work with Java, provided either as download links for online classes or preinstalled software on classroom computers. This assistance reduces uncertainty for beginning students and provides early experience using typical tools.

The fixed schedule, steady pace, and classroom format — either physical or virtual — of live classes can be drawbacks for some students, especially if they need a more flexible schedule, a slower pace, or a more comfortable setting. However, these features are beneficial for other students. A set schedule motivates students to keep up with class readings and exercises, helping them maintain steady progress. The logical organization of a live class helps students learn concepts in order, without omissions. Studying with a live instructor in a shared classroom helps some students stay engaged and focused, without the potential for distraction while viewing a text or video. Knowing that some students have scheduling challenges, many live classes offer alternate options like part-time or evening classes. Fortunately, most introductory Java classes are short courses, requiring only a few days of study. For most students, a live introductory class is done faster than a self-guided one and gives them a stronger foundation for later studies.

The Next Step

A student who completes an introductory Java class should understand most of Java’s standard elements and be able to write simple, functional programs. While no longer a ‘beginner’, a student at this level is still an amateur, far from the capabilities, flexibility, and efficiency of a professional Java programmer. Progressing toward greater fluency requires more practice and additional study of ‘intermediate’ and ‘advanced’ topics. These topics include more complex programming techniques, various coding tools, and practical applied tasks. Advanced techniques include parallel processing with concurrency and multithreading, anticipating and managing exceptions, and using generic classes. Advanced classes address tools like specialized frameworks that add interfaces and other functions to programs, build tools that assist compilation, and testing tools that confirm whether code will behave as intended. Advanced tasks are typically project-specific and might include custom interface design, security features, or server programming. Many intermediate and advanced Java courses focus on particular projects or career paths and teach the techniques, tools, and methods particular to that work. For example, an advanced course on mobile application development would explain how to incorporate touchscreen controls and how to create graphics that adapt to different display sizes. Its practice projects would recreate common types of mobile apps. Advanced Java courses also address general skills needed by all professional coders, including collaborative programming, coding automation using integrated development environments and other assistive tools, and improving efficiency in Java programs to reduce memory and processor demands.

To ground these lessons, advanced Java courses ask students to create increasingly complex and realistic projects that include the problems and tasks a professional Java coder would manage. Programmers may also learn from coding challenges: games that pose difficult problems to test their knowledge and creativity. Active Java developers confirm that the best way to build coding skill, in classes and beyond, is through continuous, varied work. After all, the goal of an advanced Java course is to prepare graduates to confidently tackle professional-level coding projects. Depending on the focus of an advanced course, its graduates might be ready for entry-level work in web development or software development or become Java developers who create tools for other coders or operating code for smart devices. If graduates plan to work independently, they could develop and sell web, mobile, or desktop applications written in Java. With further study in related disciplines, Java coders could create their own smart devices or robots, build systems for data management and analysis, or write machine learning and generative AI algorithms. 

Advanced Java courses are most commonly taught through live instruction, especially professional training programs that take students from early skills to professional coding ability. Advanced Java courses may also include intermediate and advanced courses covering multiple related topics as well as focused classes on individual topics (i.e. specific programming tasks, techniques, or coding tools). Self-guided, pre-recorded resources like on-demand classes or free tutorials are more difficult to use for long-term and advanced Java study. Still, some on-demand schools do offer advanced and professional Java training courses. Self-guided advanced Java classes are most useful for experienced programmers who are already familiar with Java, know where to find alternate explanations, and can diagnose and correct their own errors. Students progressing directly from introductory to advanced studies are more likely to be frustrated and delayed by the lack of feedback common to self-guided study. Pre-recorded lessons are also less consistent and current compared to live lessons. As students prepare for professional work with Java, they need to know its most current tools and standards. A formal, structured course with a live instructor best ensures that all necessary topics are addressed in enough detail to ensure each student’s understanding and capability.

Start Learning Java with Noble Desktop

NextGen Bootcamp hosts their Java Programming Summer Program both live online and in-person in New York City. This bootcamp course teaches professional Java coding to high school and college students. On a full-time schedule, this course takes about two weeks, beginning with an introduction to programming that grounds each concept with its corresponding uses in Java. Students then learn more complex topics like file management, object-oriented programming, and recursion. In addition to in-class instruction, students receive a proprietary workbook, complete practical projects, and can review the recordings after each class session. After completing this program, students receive a verified digital certificate.

For adult learners, Noble Desktop offers online Java Private Tutoring in three-hour increments. This instruction is 1-on-1 and personalized to each student. Though designed primarily for beginners with little or no programming experience, this tutoring program progresses quickly to higher-level programming concepts and includes a complete, original project suitable for a starting portfolio. This course also prepares students for further computer science studies.

Another high-level, general-purpose programming language, Python, is used for many of the same purposes as Java. Students interested in Java for fields like web development, software engineering, or data analysis might also want to learn Python. Noble Desktop offers two live online bootcamp courses on Python, available individually or as a single combined bootcamp: Python for Data Science and Python Machine Learning. 

Noble Desktop’s Python for Data Science Bootcamp has no prerequisites and begins with an introduction to Python itself. After covering the language’s core concepts, terms, and syntax, the course addresses coding techniques through sample tasks like data collection, analysis, and visualization. This bootcamp includes lessons on several related Python libraries: NumPy, Pandas, and Matplotlib. The Python Machine Learning Bootcamp may be taken separately but requires prior experience coding in Python and using its NumPy and Pandas libraries. This class teaches several machine learning algorithms through examples and projects coded in Python. It also addresses the theory and practice of machine learning, including data cleanup and organization, algorithm selection, and evaluation of learning performance. Both individual bootcamps take about one week on a full-time schedule, and each includes one 1-on-1 mentoring session with an instructor. The combined Python Data Science & Machine Learning Bootcamp, which takes around three to four weeks on a full-time schedule, covers both individual bootcamps and then adds additional units on automation in Python, advanced data visualization, and interactive elements. The combined bootcamp also includes four 1-on-1 mentoring sessions. All three bootcamps come with proprietary workbooks, award students a certificate upon completion, and may be retaken once within a year.