Why Learn Java?

Java is both an object-oriented programming language and a software platform. Developers value Java because it is portable across platforms and adaptable to a wide range of contexts. Have you ever explored all of the things Java can do? 

Java is versatile because of its portability and adaptability. Employers like to hire Java coders because they are flexible workers who will remain useful in the ever-changing technology environment. When hiring someone with Java skills for a particular project, businesses know that their new employee will be able to apply those skills to future projects as they come up, even if they are quite different from the initial one. In addition to its importance for Software and Web Developers, knowing Java can be helpful to Data Scientists, Game Designers, User Experience Designers, and Laboratory Scientists. It is also the standard language for the Android mobile operating system, enterprise computing, and scientific applications.

Here, you’ll learn more about the careers that benefit from Java and how it can enhance your professional life. Regardless of your overall goals, learning Java is a valuable and impressive skill to add to your resume. 

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. 

Common Professional Uses for Java

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. 

Java is Portable and Adaptable

Java’s unique strength is its portability across platforms and adaptability to different contexts. The creators’ motto of “write once, run anywhere” shows what makes Java special. When you write a program in Java, your code can work in many different environments without modifying it. Because it is an object-oriented programming language, Java is also highly adaptable. Once you have written a section of code in Java, you can use it in a modular fashion in a new context, applying it to a different purpose. Other object-oriented programming languages, like Python, can also be used in this modular fashion, but they lack Java’s portability across different platforms.

Employers Want to Hire People Who Know Java

The versatility of Java makes Java coders highly desirable to employers. That’s why completing Noble Desktop’s Java bootcamp can help you advance your career. As new technologies emerge, Java will remain relevant and useful. From a business perspective, hiring someone who knows Java means gaining an employee who can adapt their skills to new computing needs as they arise. An employee with knowledge of Java is as versatile as the language itself. Since technology is ever-evolving, someone who can code in Java is an excellent long-term investment.

Java is Applicable in a Variety of Careers

You will not be surprised to learn that Java is useful to Software Developers. In particular, Full Stack Web Developers often use it when working on the back end. However, it is also desirable for workers in several other professions. 

Because of its central role in the Android operating system, Mobile App Developers need to know Java. So do Game Designers who create games for mobile, desktop, or both. Java’s free libraries and frameworks allow Data Scientists to use deep learning efficiently. User Experience Designers use Java for prototyping and cross-platform applications. In scientific laboratories, custom apps for analysis generally run on Java. 

Even if you’re not ready for a full bootcamp, taking a Java course through Noble Desktop can help you build relevant skills for any of these careers.

Java is the Standard for Many Companies

The best-known application of Java is its adoption as the base language for the Android mobile operating system. In addition, 90% of Fortune 500 companies use Java for enterprise computing, which is the standard language used in applications created for scientific purposes. Recent growth in the popularity of smart household devices has created another computing environment in which Java proves useful. 

How to Start Learning 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.

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 greatest advantage is that it is portable across platforms and adaptable to different contexts.
• That flexibility makes Java coders highly versatile and desirable to employers.
• Java is useful for software development, particularly back end web and mobile app development.
• Web Developers, Data Scientists, Game Designers, User Experience Designers, and Laboratory Scientists all use Java in their work.
• Java is the standard language for Android mobile apps, enterprise computing, and scientific applications.
• You can receive comprehensive Java training through an in-person or live online course with Noble Desktop.