Java is a foundational language for every aspiring developer, and is used to develop various web-based apps, mobile-based apps, and various types of other software. Java has always been in very high demand and so have the Java Developers, which is all the more reason that justifies the demand for Java Bootcamp in the USA.
Although Java is a foundational language that can be taken as basic by most developers out there, that’s not what advanced Java Developers think. Advanced Java developers are professionals that got to that level only by learning specific skills to become advanced programmers. Apart from coding skills, professional Java developers also work on polishing both their hard and soft skills to stand out and utilize their full potential.
In this article, we are going to give you 22 such hard and soft skills that you can use to count yourself among the best Java Developers!
Before we begin, what does a Java developer do?
A Java Developer is basically a coder/programmer who writes code in Java programming language and that person works in a collaborative environment with other programmers and software engineers. Together they create websites, web apps, mobile apps, and other types of software for different industries. They also take on other duties and involve themselves in the testing and designing process. Along with this, they:
- Work with team members to design, roll out and maintain each of the Java application development phases
- Analyze all issues and risks related to production and roll-out
- Maintain application software
- Work out changes and recommend them to stakeholders
- Be in touch with clients after release to help with any unexpected problems
- Participate in developing the software architecture
- Transform client requirements into stipulations or guidelines
- Conduct testing, debugging and software analysis
Skills to become the best Java Developer
Now that you have learned how Java developers involve themselves in multiple activities separate from coding, it is clear that they need to equip themselves with other skills as well. Even though basic Java is easy to learn, developers are also required to acquire intermediate and advanced Java coding skills and a few other soft skills to become well-rounded Java Developers. These two skill sets are divided into Hard Skills and Soft Skills.
Hard skills
1. Understanding Java systems
Java was released in 1995 by Sun Microsystem, and ever since they have been updating their system every few years. Lately, the new rollouts are occuring at least once every six months. Though it is not possible to know everything about every update, it is usually advised that Java developers should understand all the Java systems from Java 8 iteration onwards. By doing this you can stand out from other Java developers and benefit from familiarizing yourself with the latest revisions and staying updated.
2. Acquiring Core Java skills
As a Java developer, you need to understand the core concepts of Java such as:
- Object-Oriented Programming: Also known as OOP, it is a programming model that basically organizes software around data and objects instead of doing the same on the basis of logic. The goal of this basic Java skill is to combine objects and enhance the security and stability of a code.
- Design patterns: In Java, Design patterns are programs that basically help you find a solution to a frequently occurring problem when you are coding. As a Java developer, you need to familiarize yourself with the three categories of design patterns.
- Abstract classes: In object-oriented programming, abstraction is used to simplify coding. In this case, developers mainly use a Java interface for advanced coding.
- Serialization: To represent an object in Java in sequence, serialization is used. This Java process does the serialization that transports objects between Java virtual machines.
3. Learning to operate Java build tools
Java developers learn and use Java build tools to automate source code applications. You can choose from a variety of tools that will help you in completing your projects efficiently. A few examples of Java build tools include Apache, Sonatype, Gradle, Bazel, Nexus and Cmake.
4. Comprehending Java EE components
The Java EE or Java Enterprise Edition has many components. A good Java developer has to have a comprehensive understanding of how to create server-side applications using Java EE components.
5. Getting yourself familiar with Java testing tools
Apart from coding, Java developers are also expected to be involved in the testing processes as well. There are various testing tools that enable developers to test their code with the help of a separate database without having a web browser to launch the application. Some examples of Testing Tools are TestNG and Selenium. These tools allow Java developers to test multiple processes quite easily.
6. Learning Big data
Big Data is one of the major skills that any Java Developer must acquire if they want to become an Advanced Java Developer. Many developers prefer Java to learn big data as it is one of the most preferred languages to learn the same.
Hadoop and HDFS are frameworks for Big Data that are written in Java. Many ETL applications like Apache Kafka and Apache Camel are used for data extraction and loading and these applications have been built using Java. In a nutshell, having a good knowledge of Java is helpful in learning big data.
7. Application containers
As a Java Developer, you also need to familiarize yourself with Application Containers. Advanced Java Developers use application containers as components that are required in building a software program.
JBoss and Jetty applications are the two most popular examples of application containers amongst the community of Java Developers. They provide a suite of functions that fall between logging into a database and authenticating a user.
8. The SOLID principles
SOLID is basically a set of principles that were founded to improve quality and maintenance processes and they are now used to make object-oriented programming more efficient. The SOLID principles comprise:
- Single responsibility: As its name suggests this principle assigns single responsibility. So, within a program, Java Developers assign one class to each component.
- Open-closed: Functions, classes and modules always remain open for extensions but not for modifications.
- Liskov substitution: This principle advises developers that subclasses should replace related superclasses.
- Interface segregation: This principle advises developers to make interfaces specific to one client in order to prevent irrelevant interfaces in a program design.
- Dependency inversion: This principle advises Java developers to create specific items you need to develop dependency objects as abstractions. Another aspect of this principle advises that high-level modules do not depend on low-level modules.
9. The Spring framework
The Spring framework is basically a simplified process that has superior capabilities for object injection. The Spring Framework is the most preferred choice amongst developers to build Java applications. Spring framework can be used at all levels of software development which is why it is popular.
10. Android/Kotlin
Java is not just limited to web apps, it is also a very popular language to develop Mobile Applications. A Java developer can easily learn Kotlin, since Kotlin is a revised version of the Java language and is currently a widely used language to build mobile apps. The best thing about Kotlin is that it is interoperable with Java, and therefore learning Kotling will take you towards that advanced level of Java Developer.
11. DevOps tool
The continuous integration and deployment of the DevOps processes to their app development process has become a standard practice amongst the community of Java Developers. Hence, as a Java developer you will only benefit from updating your skills and learning DevOps tools. Jenkins, Kubernetes, Docker, Chef and Maven are some of the examples of popular DevOps tools.
12. Blockchain
Blockchain technology is being widely developed with the help of Java. This tech helps developers create blockchain systems that can prevent invasive attempts and are more secure. Knowing about blockchain will help you as developers to make use of your skills to reap the benefits of this skill that is going to be in high demand in the coming future.
Soft skills
Apart from all the technical skills, developers must focus on developing soft skills that make a huge impact in their work and can give them an edge over their peers. Soft skills are necessary for the tasks that require you to step up for jobs and roles that are not part of your job description.
13. Time management
Java developers are given strict deadlines and they are expected to meet them. A good Java Developer defines their time frame for every phase of the application development cycle. They calculate how much time is enough to fulfill tasks at each phase from the start of the development process till the end and they ensure that all the deadlines are met as per the client’s convenience.
14. Communication
Good communicators can help every industry to flourish and they surely go a long way regardless of the job role and profession. A software engineer/Java developer works alone most of the time, so this solitude can basically hinder them from being a good communicator.
Keep in mind the tougher and more complex a project is, the more people you’ll be working with. Therefore, at some point, communication will eventually come into play. Effective communication means that everyone must be on the same page as far as deadlines, project requirements, and expectations are concerned.
As a Java developer you should know that it is quite hard to find a good communicator amongst all other developers simply due to the nature of the role. So if you possess a good command over communication skills, you’ll stand out in the crowd.
15. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
Empathy goes a long way in the IT industry. As a fellow developer you need to be able to understand how your colleague is feeling or experiencing at any given time.
Software engineering soft skills begin and end with the fundamentals of human interaction, and emotional intelligence is pretty fundamental in any human interaction. Having basic empathy will help you understand how the other person is feeling and you will be able to take appropriate action. You will also be able to respond to the client requirements better and will know how to react in certain situations.
16. Self-Awareness
Having Self Awareness is an important skill in life and it holds equal importance in your work life. Possessing this quality will shape you into a working professional who is confident in the things that they know and humble when they have an opportunity to learn. You’ll always be confident when you need to identify the areas where you want to improve yourself.
17. Patience
Frustration is a daily part of any software developer’s team, as developers face a lot of challenges that could frustrate them to the point of slamming their hands on desks.
To keep you from these situations, as a developer you need to practice patience because having a calm mind is the only way to solve a certain problem. People usually make the best decisions when they are in a neutral state.
So be a compassionate person, look for issues, resolve them calmly and move on.
18. Open-Mindedness
As a developer you need to have open-mindedness as your role is a lot related to being creative when you are, let’s say, ideating for a mobile app. You will need to be someone who is willing to take chances while being aware of what you do. Only then you will be able to find new horizons in results.
19. Collaboration / Teamwork
Apart from having good communication skills, you must also be collaborative and be able to work in teams. Yes, a developer works alone but they’d still have to work with their teammates, project managers, and clients!
20. Accountability
Mistakes are a part and parcel of the daily work routine of Java Developers, but the accountability is to own those mistakes.
You have to be bold and brave enough to acknowledge your mistakes, take your learning’s and move on while making sure the same mistakes don’t happen again.It is essential to be aware of what went wrong and have the solution implemented right away.
21. Adaptability
As a java developer, you need to be ADAPTABLE!
You must be adaptable in learning new tech and being up to date with the latest developments. You will have to conquer your natural fear of trying new things, as the most able and advanced java developers are not afraid of trying new things.
22. Problem-Solving / Critical Thinking
The job of a Java developer is unimaginable without problem-solving/critical skills. Out of all the above-mentioned skills, this one soft skill holds the most importance as this soft skill is going to reflect your capability.
And there you have it! Now you are ready to become a Java Developer
If you wish to be a great Java Developer and be in demand, then you have to work on the above-mentioned hard skills and soft skills. Remember, hard skills will make you technically sound and good at what you are expected to do. Soft Skills, on the other hand, will be icing on the cake. They will make you stand out from the crowd and present you as an ideal candidate for employers!