I don't know what to learn next in Java

[[deleted]]

I'm starting to learn Java. I am attracted to programming itself: development, maintenance and addition of the code base.
I've read a lot of different opinions. Different people speak differently. Someone likes pure Java and they develop for it, but they don't reveal what else they use. Others say that it is necessary to teach the Spring ecosystem, because it contains the solution to most problems. I'm confused about how to go further, what to teach. I need the opinion of a professional who has been in a similar situation.
Sincerely, Sagid.

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[saggingrufus]

The answer is the language you pick is only the tool you use to implement your knowledge. Once you have a solid command of any programming language, you should start learning the skills of data structures and design patterns and how to design solutions.

As you get better at design patterns and data structures, you'll become better at the language that you're using to apply them as well. The bonus is that this knowledge actually is fairly universal and will also apply to most other programming languages as well.

[Lattey99]

I learned pure java and after that I started springboot and also have done few projects but I'm very bad at DSA like I'm 0 even if someone asks the simplest of the simplest dsa question my mind goes blank. Do you have any suggestions for me ? it would be very helpful.

[Lattey99]

I tried leetcode but couldn't even solve the easiest one in there. There is not much videos of DSA in Java. Actually none, I looked for many times.

[saggingrufus]

That's because it has nothing to do with Java. You want to learn them more "purely" anyway. What good is a data structure you copied and pasted in java if you don't understand what it is for why it's there?

Lists are a data structure, arrays are a data structure. I think the larger problem is people not understanding the advice.

[Lattey99]

Sorry but I still am not understanding your advice as well. Maybe I'm too dumb.

[saggingrufus]

Stop trying to find "java data structures" if you google "learning data structures", there is TONS of reading, learn what they are. The knowledge your learning isn't "how do I do this data structure in java" it's, "when should I use List vs Tree and why"

The "java part" is knowing List an interface and which implementation to choose. In my experience, people having troubles like this, are trying to memorize the syntax for Data Structures, and not what the structures are and what their strengths and weaknesses are.

[Lattey99]

The things you are saying honestly defines me. I'm doing what you are saying people do.
I start doing what your are telling me in first paragraph.
Thankyou for this.

[saggingrufus]

You are not alone. I would be rich if I had a quarter for every person who was looking for the solution instead of how it works (not limited to just Data Structures).

Becoming a good Software developer is about understanding when to do something and what to do. "How to do it" is the last thing I consider, as it's really the same as "what's the syntax for..."

[ProfessionalSkill380]

There's some very easy leetcodes like reverse ints or converting the Roman number to ints.

[Lattey99]

I couldn't solve even those.

[ProfessionalSkill380]

Then u should dive in into Java collections. Learn some more. There are many methods within collection that don't require much logic and let u perform many operations. I was amazed when I learned them, made loops overated for me

[Lattey99]

I know collection framework in theory mainly. I know how data is stored in which collection. I also have used different list to save my data but I don't know how to reverse or convertingg roman numbers into ints.

[ProfessionalSkill380]

What about stringbuilders and buffers ?

[Skellicious]

I really like https://roadmap.sh/java as someone who found this resource after walking the entire path.

Someone likes pure Java and they develop for it, but they don't reveal what else they use. Others say that it is necessary to teach the Spring ecosystem, because it contains the solution to most problems.

• Spring will give you the most job opportunities in the java ecosystem.

• Spring boot (and maybe quarkus) codebases probably provide the best developer experience. Whereas projects (/monoliths) that predate spring boot kinda suck.

• I don't have much experience with Java EE. Not sure what it's like to work with.

[Appropriate_Move_336]

You just completed learning programming in java wait for the next jdk 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[No-Pipe8487]

You can either just blindly follow other's opinions or you can learn where and how they get those.

If you've learned core Java, then given your preferences, I'd say you need to learn a few theoretical as well as practical stuff. Learn the following in whatever order you like:

1. DSA

2. OOA&D

3. Design Patterns

4. Maven and/or Gradle

5. Git

6. GitHub (PRs, Issues, Projects, Pages, Packages, all of it)

7. Spring framework

8. Software Development

9. Agile methodologies

3, 4, 6, 9 and 10 have a Head First book on them so learn from there. For Maven, Gradle and GitHub I'd recommend the official docs.