Java is one of the most popular – if not the most popular – programming languages. Whether you are using a web application, an application on an Android device, software on Windows, or even consumer electronics such as television boxes, there is a chance it is being powered by Java. A staggering three billion devices depend on Java to run according to Oracle, and there are millions of developers whose full-time job is to code in Java. It is a very popular language among developers and it is a language which just keeps on growing and increasing in relevance.
There are plenty of resources and Java programming tips which are available on the internet. Because it is such a popular language with far-reaching applications, it is incredibly easy to find the right learning resource. If you are just starting out with learning Java, it can feel overwhelming and, at times, you may be completely lost and feel clueless. It is natural; learning a programming language is challenging and it takes time.
#1: Don’t Rush – Take Your Time
Although this may sound obvious, it is very critical. If you want to learn Java properly and get to a point where you truly understand the language, you need to take your time in learning the language’s coding logic. The more time you take, the quicker you will pick things up and learn the actual language.
If you start rushing things, you won’t understand them properly and you will need to backtrack and go over it again. Trying to rush the learning process just causes inefficiencies and will lead to frustration. Taking your time to learn Java properly will help you learn the language at a much quicker rate and you can get to coding real applications sooner.
#2: Learn from Mistakes
Although this is a valuable piece of advice for life in general, coding mistakes really do teach you a lot about the language. It is normal to overlook mistakes which seem small, but you should pay them attention – they will teach you key things about the language and you can easily benefit very early on by learning from even the simplest mistakes.
When learning to code, you will make a lot of mistakes. You should not be discouraged by this and instead, use them to consolidate your learning.
#3: Keep Practicing
As they say, practice makes perfect. If all you do is learn Java from your lessons and do not attempt to put any of this learning into practice by attempting to write real code, you will not consolidate your knowledge and begin to understand the language.
From the outset, you should be using your newfound knowledge to write even the simplest pieces of code. By doing this, you will start to learn how the language works in practice.
Java is a challenging language to learn. However, it is also one of the best languages to learn. Billions of devices, pieces of technology, applications and software on the world depend on it to function. By becoming a Java programmer, you can create virtually anything you put your mind to.