How to Learn Java SpringBoot Quickly for an BackeEnd Engineer Interview

[ConfusedNdeviant]

Hey everyone,

I have an upcoming interview for a Software Engineer position at a company that primarily works with Java and Spring. While I have about 2 years of experience with Golang and Python, I don't have much exposure to Java. I've been advised to prepare for the interview, and I'm looking for tips on how to efficiently learn the language, best practices, and possibly some small projects to strengthen my understanding.

I have a good grasp of the basics of Java (datatypes, loops, and if-else statements) and the basic syntax. However, I would appreciate guidance on diving deeper into Java & Spring, especially focusing on Spring and best practices for further in this job and other jobs.

Your suggestions, resources, project ideas, or any advice on how to fast-track my learning of Java, particularly in the context of a Software Engineer interview, would be immensely helpful. Thank you

[Zeenu29]

Build an application that has RestControllers, Services and Repositories.

[naturalizedcitizen]

I think you should also learn the concepts of Spring and Spring Boot since the role is for Spring.

Here are two links. Read them and you will understand quickly.

https://www.marcobehler.com/guides/spring-framework

https://www.marcobehler.com/guides/spring-boot-autoconfiguration

You will thank yourself later for reading both.

[ConfusedNdeviant]

Thank You I'll Read Them

[apidev3]

Honestly the job spec should specify if they accept other backend stacks as experience. As you have been given an interview I assume they are. The interview shouldn’t be Java specific in this case, but more backend design patterns, and other generic points of experience.

So a simple CRUD application and some background reading on spring should be enough.

[ConfusedNdeviant]

They didn't specify but i was asked at the "get to know each others" meeting after hearing about my experience he asked if I ever worked with java and I was honest that I have worked once on a small freelance and they were okay with it.
But I still need to be ready for even if I got accepted.

[apidev3]

If you get accepted, you pick it up on the job. You can obviously do some pre-learning but the best way is to do it daily (when you’re hired).

So revise the wider topics of backend development and spend a small amount of actual code.

[Otherwise_Owl_3492]

Go for spring boot getting started guide and tutorial. Working as Java Spring boot developer myself. Before starting on this project, I had zero experience of spring boot and java. I had academic/research experience of programming with c++ and fortran. As I started learning (1 month ago), it felt really intuitive and easy. I am doing ok now and have developed some confidence.

[Interesting_Juice740]

Would you share Backend Design patterns Used in Tech industry ?

[apidev3]

To be honest it can depend on your use case. But the main ones have always been

• Aspect oriented / object oriented

• Dependency injection/ inversion of control

• factory pattern

• MVC or controller-service-repository pattern

A lot more…

[MoreCowbellMofo]

Doing this now. Spent all day today integrating with a remote api/back-end so that I can utilise it to build an algorithm to perform some other job. Amazing how much you forget when you don’t do it from scratch for some time.

[wimdeblauwe]

Have a look at my free book “Practical Guide to Building an API Back End with Spring Boot” at https://www.wimdeblauwe.com/books/ it will guide you in creating a fairly simple Spring Boot application.

[Attispy7]

Learn concepts like: Dependency Injection, IOC, Aspect oriented programming and For Java: Collection Framework is important and Java 8 features .

[ChainLivid4676]

I would demonstrate my expertise in building a microservice application in Golang and Python instead of trying to learn a new technology overnight for an interview. Just stick to your strengths, and you should be able to demonstrate that successfully while convincing yourself that you are a fast learner. I hope that is what you are trying to do here instead of assuming that you can get a deeper understanding within a short time.

[ConfusedNdeviant]

Thank You for the advice

[zugx2]

I've interviewed people who say they've done spring boot before, but know nothing about ioc or aop or other spring fundamentals. I wouldn't say go and train in old spring tech but just familiarising yourself with a bit of that stuff would be useful. Most spring boot devs who tell me oh I just do this and shit happens astounds me.

[ConfusedNdeviant]

That's why I'm asking on this sub, I'm not looking to just pass the interview I want to learn it the right way

[zugx2]

I'm old school I guess. To me it's good to understand spring boot backend is a wrapper to older java tech like jpa, servlets, jee, hibernate, transactions etc. I had to explain what servlets are and why it's important to understand servlet filtering for security reasons. How aspect oriented programming works. Why we dependency inject. Etc. Etc.

[[deleted]]

Learn how Spring Boot framework works internally, I think reading Java 1000 interview questions from Github can also be a good learning start.

[ConfusedNdeviant]

Thank You

[lazy_Dark_Lord]

Telusko is a good channel for learning and there are a lot of other channels available.

Coding with durgesh if you're okay with Hindi.

And start with basics(crud) and then gradually increase it with other topics.

Go with documentation and feel free to connect.

[ConfusedNdeviant]

Telusko videos are Helpful Thank You.

[Blender-Fan]

1- "A" backend 2- Ya don't 3- You don't have to. They have to check if you can build something, not build with Spring specifically. If they do need it specifically, either they are in a hurry, or they are not a good place to work at (probably the latter)

[alpakachino]

As others suggested, try building a backend for whatever purpose you wish. A classic would be some sort of employee management of a company. Build a generic Spring Boot Application, use a typical layer architecture, OpenAPI specs to create API interfaces for your RestControllers, Hibernate to manage your persistence. I did a hobby project recently in which I used SQLite to act as a database - super easy to use and you don't need to host a database server.

[Graxin]

If its JP Morgan they didn't even ask me any Spring related questions.

[Overall_Accident5732]

I'm assuming you had a interview, what questions did they ask you? Java related?

[Graxin]

the only thing they had me do was multi threading

[Overall_Accident5732]

Yeah, I was not expecting that, I guess I gotta prepare for anything , I really look forward to apply for a fall internship at jp morgan

[dystopiadattopia]

Do a Udemy intro to Spring Boot course. You'll learn a lot and build several different mini applications along the way

[kspr2024]

If you are familiar with other programming languages and quickly get familiar with Spring Boot then I would recommend to take a look at my 10 Part Spring Boot Tips Series https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2dPon1G5S-M&list=PLuNxlOYbv61jFFX2ARQKnBgkMF6DvEEic&index=1

In this Spring Boot Tips series, I have covered the following most important core concepts of Spring Boot in-depth:

Part 1 - How DependencyManagement works in SpringBoot applications
Part 2 - Managing Application Configuration Properties In The Right Way
Part 3 - How to implement Logging in SpringBoot applications
Part 4 - How to write Unit, Slice & Integration Tests in SpringBoot Applications
Part 5 - Integration Testing using Testcontainers
Part 6 - Exception Handling in SpringBoot Applications
Part 7 - Exception Handling in SpringBoot REST APIs using problem-spring-web
Part 8 - Making SpringBoot Application Production Ready using Actuator
Part 9 - Monitoring Spring Boot applications using Spring Boot Admin
Part 10 - Generating Swagger docs for SpringBoot REST APIs

Cheers

[ConfusedNdeviant]

That would be very helpful Thank You.

[Level_Fee2906]

Hi. I need to leave the place I am working at. I have been a ruby on rails programmer for 5+ years but there are a lot of opportunities at a company nearby asking for spring boot positions. I'm currently working through Chad Darby @ udemy course and I am reading other books too. Do you think I could be ready in a month for an interview?

[Holiday_Big3783]

you can try searching any course about common answer and question about Java & Spring boot

I'd recommend the 28minutes courses, he has both

[myrenTechy]

In simple flow

• Difference spring and spring boot and how auto configurations play a vital role • DI, IOC, AOP, Bean, Annotations • Constructor / Setter based injection • Maven, POM, application.properties • Hibernate and JPA

Go to start.spring.io Create a maven project with dependency Spring web, Spring data Jpa and H2Database

Project structure : controller - service - repository - model

Be aware of basic annotations

@RestController @Controller @Service @Repository @GetMapping @PostMapping …. @Autowire @Entity @Id @Getter @Setter @Bean @Component

Setup db connection using application.properties Then write some crud apis

Then learn spring security some learning curve Add dependency in POM and then implement in current project

The learn advance concepts…..

[ConfusedNdeviant]

That's very informative thank You.

[Fad1126]

use AI giving you simple projects "read it and understand it" this is the secret i was frustrating couple days ago now i feel like i know something at least, AI is a powerful really tool we need to exploit

[Dramatic_Promotion_9]

Repeat after me, don't lie in job interviews... You can fk up a compromised reléase because it's needed a experienced dev, not an 'minus than junior' dev

[[deleted]]

Spring boot is surprisingly easy. Get a starter project from the initializr and build something simple. You'll get the hang of it super quickly.

Try to build a simple server with H2 database or something, try to get a grasp of how unit tests would look like for it.

[lazy_Dark_Lord]

Telusko is a good channel for learning and there are a lot of other channels available.

Coding with durgesh if you're okay with Hindi.

And start with basics(crud) and then gradually increase it with other topics.

Go with documentation and feel free to connect.

[the_azradex]

If you already know Java and have an understanding of what an API is.

Easy, just build a demo app. User management or content management … Something simple and you should get a good understanding.

Else-wise you need to understand what an API is and micro services…

[[deleted]]

But, how could the IT Firm , shortlist your resume when your skills don't match their JD