Is it realistic to learn Java online and become a serious programmer from scratch if you are still in college and have no experience in coding or other IT skills?
You know nothing about classes, methods, and object-oriented programming, and you’ve been thinking all your life that Java is an island in faraway Indonesia? This is a question that a lot of people are asking themselves.
Is it realistic to learn Java from scratch and become a serious programmer? So today we will talk about whether it is realistic to learn Java if you have to start from the very basics. And, if yes, how to do it.
Basic advice
Now let’s get down to business: the following is a series of useful tips and basic guidelines which, once applied, will show that learning Java from scratch is more than realistic, all it takes is the will, the willingness to put in some time and effort, and an understanding of how to properly approach the task.
- If you decide to learn Java, start right away, don’t put it off
Of course, you should be aware that learning a new profession is not an easy task, it will require a lot of time and energy. So before you make a final decision, it’s worth thinking, researching the information on the Web, listening, and reading what other experienced people have to say. In addition to thinking about the feasibility of learning programming in general, it certainly makes sense to spend time choosing a programming language, which you will start your journey.
But once you decided to start learning Java, start immediately, do not delay, otherwise, it is very likely that this desire and remain unrealized.
- Ignore what critics say
If you have already decided to learn Java, the best strategy is to ignore the words of critics and all sorts of personalities with negative opinions about this endeavor. The fact is that there are more than enough people among programmers who have a few unkind words for newcomers who want to join the ranks of professional coders as well as humanitarians who come to IT from other spheres. In fact, Java itself has many critics who predict its demise. Critical opinions should be taken into account if you’re in the process of weighing the pros and cons, but once you’ve made up your mind the best strategy is to let them pass you by.
- Don’t take up all the learning tools at once
One of the biggest mistakes, in the beginning, is to try to learn Java using many available methods and information sources at once – books, forums, video lectures, etc. To avoid wasting time and effort, we advise you first to explore the available resources and choose some good sites or books to learn Java from. Once you have made your choice, start using these resources one by one. If, after trying one site or reading one of the books, you feel it is not right for you, take something else. But give each source of information enough time to sink in, don’t give up right away. In addition, if you are also studying at university, you should think about essay writing service so that you don’t lose your academic standing.
- Don’t focus just on theory, the key to success is in practice
Another very common mistake made by many beginners is to focus on studying theory in depth before engaging in any practice. This approach has many disadvantages: learning theory without any practice greatly slows down your learning while reducing your motivation to continue.
- But don’t forget about the theory
But, despite everything said above, the theory should not be forgotten either, especially if you are aimed at long-term development as a professional programmer. In this case, it makes sense not only to read textbooks and current books about Java regularly to form a strong technical foundation for further development.
With desire and persistence, a student can definitely become a Java programmer, even without any technical knowledge, and it can be done quite quickly. Experience shows that, with the right approach, one can become a more or less functional coder in a matter of months. But don’t be fooled, this is only the beginning of the never-ending road to perfection.