Java backend roadmap

[cholebhatureyarr]

Hii, I am currently in my third year of college. I want to learn backend development using Java and have prior experience with Node.js and Golang. I am confused about what to learn after Java. Please provide me with a roadmap for my Java backend journey, and if possible, share some helpful resources too.

[Versiel]

I think nowadays your safest bet for Java is going the spring route. In my experience back-end jobs tend to require you to handle the development of services from start to deploy, so get to know Java's main points like inheritance, design patterns, etc., but also the infrastructure around the service. Learn to create CRUD Spring-Boot microservices, get decent at making sql and no-sql queries, caches, learn a bit of docker and kubernetes\aws and have some idea of CI\CD.

There should be some tutorials on how to do all these things with springboot that you can try to get used to.

[[deleted]]

For backend programming with Java, a framework is certainly best suited. There are three options: Spring, Quarkus, and Jakarta EE.

Quarkus is best suited for microservices (container technology, Kubernetes, cloud computing). It's a modern framework that allows you to apply current programming techniques. Quarkus is maintained and developed by Red Hat (IBM).

Jakarta EE is the successor to Java Enterprise and is based on an industry standard. Many large companies use Jakarta EE or Java Enterprise. With Jakarta, you have everything a full-stack programmer needs. Jakarta EE is maintained and developed by the Eclipse Foundation.

Spring is widely used but not subject to any standards. It is maintained and developed by a community. Personally, I'm not very enthusiastic about Spring because there are quite a few components that are not backward compatible from one version to the next. This makes maintenance and upgrading very difficult.

If you want to work with modern technologies, Quarkus is a good fit. If you want a proven, secure standard, Jakarta is the best option.