What is Java and why should you learn it?

In India, Java is much more than just a programming language, it is bread and butter for thousands of software engineers. Java is a cult and a buzz word.

Trends in Java

Go to Google Trends and type “Java”, you will find India topping the list of most searched region. Go toNaukri.com and type Java, you will find thousands of jobs there. Back in 1997-2000, Java professionals were sold in Job Market like hot cakes.

Even today, I keep getting a lot of calls from recruiters for jobs in Java technology.

Java programmers and computer science students are obsessed with Java. They talk endlessly about the power of Java.

With all this craze in air, students belonging to non-IT background seem to have no idea about Java. They keep asking the question “What is Java and how to learn it?” at every possible occasion.

This post is an attempt to clarify such simple questions about Java to beginners. Remember, no question is a silly question. Feel free to ask in comments if your doubts are not cleared.

Questions

1. Why JAVA?
2. What is JAVA?
3. Which version of JAVA should I learn?
4. How do I learn JAVA?
5. Any extra material to learn JAVA better?
6. How many days would I need to learn JAVA?
7. What should I have already known before learning JAVA?
8. Which topics should I focus on in JAVA 2 Special Edition?
9. What are Certifications in JAVA?
10. How to prepare for SCJP(Sun Certified JAVA professional) certification?
11. What is J2EE now?
12. Give me more details about SCJP

1. Why JAVA?
If you aspire to become a software engineer, learning java is a great start. Knowledge in JAVA could fetch you a software job. Like I said, there are thousands of Java jobs posted at any given time. Java helps people who join IT companies as freshers clear the training programs.

2. What is JAVA?

Java is a programming language used for developing web-based and stand-alone applications. You can think of it as a tool to develop all the graphical user stuff like buttons, drop downs and menus and interactive stuff on the web. Ever noticed internet pages whose address ends with .jsp? They are the Java Server Pages. So next time when you see jsp on page address, you know that the website uses JAVA technology.

Java transformed and influenced the world wide web since its inception in 1995. It was created to support embedded systems. It was not successful in embedded systems and accidentally attracted a growing World wide web. Take some time off to read the Wikipedia article on Java.
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3. Which version of JAVA should I learn?
Java Standard Edition, Java Enterprise Edition, Java Mobile Edition, Java FX
As a beginner you are concerned only about JAVA standard edition. Even in that there are many versions such as
J2SE 6.0
J2SE 5.0
J2SE 1.4.2
J2SE 1.3.1

J2SE 6.0 is the latest version, but as a beginner I would recommend you to start with J2SE 1.5 which is currently the most widely used version.

4. How do I learn JAVA?

I recommend you to join a long term Oracle certified computer institute that teaches Java (NIIT /SSI if you are in India). Oracle Inc., offers many certification courses related to Java. I will tell in-detail about certifications in the coming questions.

5. Any extra material to learn JAVA better?

If you wish to supplement your knowledge that you get from a training institute “after” finishing Core JAVA course, you can read “Thinking in JAVA by Bruce Eckel” . This book is NOT for beginners. If you are a beginner, try “Head First Java, Your Brain on Java – A Learner’s Guide” by Bert Bates, Kathy Sierra
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6. How many days would I need to learn JAVA?
In order to learn the basics of Core Java you would require 3 months and if you take a short term course. I believe it would take 3 weeks to grasp the concepts. If you wish to learn and get OCJP (Oracle Certified Java Professional) certification you will need 3-6 months of study and practice.
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7. What should I have already known before learning JAVA?
You should know well any of the procedural programming languages like C language. Acquaintance with Control statements, Syntax of statements and expressions, Scope rules, Functions, call by value, data types in C language is a must.

Knowledge of C++ is a great plus, not mandatory though. In C++, acquaintance with object oriented programming concepts, classes, Inheritance, Overloading concepts would help you learn Java better.

Java is an object oriented language and shares a few similarities with C++. Java is all about classes and objects. So good knowledge of object oriented concepts would help you learn Java a lot quicker.

8. Which topics should I focus on in JAVA 2 Special Edition?

Object Oriented concepts: Classes and objects, Interfaces, Inheritance, Abstract classes, access modifiers, data types, variables, static variables, Java Beans naming standards, packages, invoking and using javac compiler, debugging java code, Exceptions, Arrays, Constructors, overloading, String class, Input/Output streams, AWT, basics of swings, applets, collection classes and utilities.

9. What are Certifications in JAVA?

Certifications are special online tests conducted by the companies owning any technology. This certifications are words of promise that beholder of that certification would have sound knowledge in that technology. Sun certifications are highly valued in software organizations.

To name few of certifications that Sun MicroSystems has to offer:
OCJA(Oracle Certified JAVA Associate)
OCJP(Oracle Certified JAVA Programmer)
OCJD(Oracle Certified JAVA Developer)

OCJA is too basic and is not valued as much as OCJP. I recommend a beginner to aim for OCJP. OCJD is advanced certification and it is not for beginners. For OCJD you require to have OCJP certification. Few years of experience would make you fit for OCJD.

10. How to prepare for SCJP(Sun Certified JAVA professional) certification?

After finishing Core java course in a good computer training institute. Ideally with 3 months of practice and “Sun Certified Java Programmer for JAVA 5 by Kathy sierra and Berty Bates” would be the best book in the market to achieve your goal.

11. What is J2EE now?

It is continuation of J2SE . J2EE is used for preparing server pages where as J2SE is used for preparing client pages and applications. There is Sun Certified Web Component Developer (OCWCD) certification for J2EE. However you need to be an OCJP before you can write OCWCD.

12. More details about SCJP:

SCJP has currently three options : SCJP 6, SCJP 1.5 and SCJP 1.4. SCJP 6 is the latest one added for testing JAVA version 6, I would recommend SCJP 1.5 as java version 6 is very new one, so it may be tough to get coaching or material on that test. There are upgrade exams for those people who wish to upgrade their certification. For example let us say Mr.XYZ is a certified SCJP 1.4 programmer. He wishes to get SCJP 1.5 he need pay as much required for SCJP 1.5. Fee would be less, apart from that syllabus would be less.

Details of Sun Certified Programmer for the Java Platform, Standard Edition 5.0 (CX-310-055) are as follows:

• Delivered at: Authorized Worldwide Prometric Testing Centers (http://www.prometric.com/)
• Exam type: Multiple choice and drag and drop
• Number of questions: 72
• Pass score: 59% (43 of 72 questions)
• Time limit: 175 minutes
• Cost: 200$ (may change see below link for latest price)http://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=320
• 6000 INR. May vary from place to place within India. You can even get discount in some centers.
• Syllabus/Objectives for SCJP 1.5 is available athttp://education.oracle.com/pls/web_prod-plq-dad/db_pages.getpage?page_id=41&p_exam_id=1Z0_851#3

All the best!