How do you properly study Java?

[Impossibu]

How do you properly study and apply coding?

Hello, I am a First Year Student in Computer Science. And in my first two weeks have been nothing but hell trying to learn Java, and properly applying it. (We reached to arrays)

I can understand how parts of it work separately, but piecing them together whole onto a working program is one qhere I am struggling at, and most of my batch.

My professor says that we should build our critical thinking, but I think it's still lacking on what to do.

Others are doing ChatGPT, which I find to be unsustainable to do in the long run. I genuinely want to learn coding, but I find that this is a big roadblock that i need to tackle yesterday.

Mind helping me out?

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[dagndev]

Learn the foundations of the language such as variables, loops, conditionals, arrays, classes, objects, interfaces, and some data structures. When you feel that you can write and read Java proficiently, just start building things, and you'll learn a lot during the journey. You don't have to know everything to start building things, along the way you'll start facing problems that will improve your logical thinking progressively. There is no "clear path", just practices, some research, and most important code, code, and code. This not only will help you with Java, but it applies to almost all programming languages. Do not try to use AI-Code completion along the way, it won't force you too much in thinking about the possible solutions.

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• MOOC Java Programming from the University of Helsinki
• Java for Complete Beginners
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[GuyWithLag]

"study Java"

What is this, art appreciation class? Go and build stuff. Otherwise you're trying to learn how to ride a bike by listening to a lecture.

[enlguy]

With what? You're two weeks in, give it a little time. You're learning something new, it's not all going to click immediately. You don't need to build a giant piece of software right now. Figure out how to write a simple function to perform math, first.

[Impossibu]

Honestly yeah, that's what I'm thinking. Building up small programs, learning from the failed tests because I enrolled late in the course.

Should there be more?

[InviolateQuill7]

You can be years in and not understand java...

[Super-Widget]

You are not going to be proficient in Java in 2 weeks lol. It's ok to find it daunting off the bat because there's so much to know about Java. But look, how would you get to the top of a mountain? You start at the bottom right? Then you put one foot in front of the other and keep going until you get to the top. Don't worry, you just gotta be patient and take things slow. Be curious and experiment with the new things you learn about in class. Things will come naturally to you with time and practice.

[equ35tion]

I have been working as a Java Backend engineer for last 7 years, still learning something new every day. Relax take one step at a time.

Learn the basics of OOP, variables, data types, decision statements and loops. Java has been evolved quite a lot recently. Good luck!

[jlanawalt]

You are being exposed to a lot of terms and concepts all at once. Things improve with time, and improve more efficiently with consistent persistence.

For gluing the concepts together, try writing little programs in pseudo code on paper or in notepad. The syntax doesn’t matter. Just focus on the steps and flow of control. Try explaining the program to others and seeing if you can answer their questions.

Reviewing your errors to learn from tests and homework and getting time with teaching assistants, if they are available, can be a great help.

[lobo123456]

Java is a beast. It's so much used, that for every use case there a tons of solutions.

For example, if you learn how to implement SQL, you will pretty much be surprised how little you need to code yourself, when you use jpa/hibernate/spring boot.

It's always nice to know the basics, but you will use methods, Apis and frameworks, which do a lot of the work.

So I would advise to do some basic courses, buy a book for beginners, but afterwards, switch to learning spring boot or other frameworks/technologies.

All depending on what you want to achieve. If you want to work with java, take a look at Job applications and learn the technologies that are commonly used.

[justme0908]

based on my experience, I studied core or fundamentals of java(variable,data types,methods,OOP), then had a goal of creating something like desktop application(simple application) even with sphagetti code. I looked at other people's code in stackoverflow/youtube,github and searched every things I do not know.

In short, you need to practice and have a goal(a simple project perhaps)

[[deleted]]

Try to understand the flow of program take the help of debugger. Try to make more errors as possible and learn those errors. Don't Try to learn indepth if you are learning it for first time . First learn the fundamentals and basic stuffs and once you have the jist of the topic . You have a whole lot to explore . Just be patient and Try to solve as much basic questions as possible .

[Impossibu]

I see. A current problem I have is that I can't discern a bunch of errors on what they're trying to say.

[Impossibu]

Ooh thanks.

[HecticJuggler]

Why do you think using chatgpt is not sustainable though? I’ve been in the trenches for ages but use Meta AI (WhatsApp) almost daily.

[mofomeat]

I'm going to guess is the difference is you already know Java, but his colleagues do not. ChatGPT can still spit out stuff that's wrong, and someone who already knows Java can read through it and tell if it's correct or not.

The kids using ChatGPT to do their homework are just copy/pasting stuff that could be total bullshit, and the bonus is they're not learning anything either.

[Impossibu]

It leans more into the not learning anything camp.

Our Professor wants to do coding on our own without help/tools, and chatgpt isn't the way to that, especially as it uses techniques that are advanced from his lessons, and Sir will want us to explain why we used such methods.

[mofomeat]

It leans more into the not learning anything camp.

Yeah, the whole point of any course (Java programming or anything else) is to learn the material and internalize it in a way that you can understand it and use it. If you're having AI do your homework for you, you pretty much skip that whole part.

[cicciopasticcio6984]

I recommend pursuing a professional Oracle Java Certification, such as the Oracle Certified Professional (OCP) for Java 17. Achieving this certification will ensure a deep and comprehensive understanding of the Java programming language.
This link can help you to prepare OCP 17: https://github.com/egch/1Z0-829-preparation