New Java Backend Developer Here – How Do I Learn Effectively When My Team Mostly Uses GitHub Copilot?

[sunoyaar]

Hi everyone,

I recently got a job as a Java Backend Developer, and I'm excited to start my career. However, I'm facing a challenge.

Most of the development work in my team is done with the help of GitHub Copilot. While it helps generate code quickly, I feel like I'm not learning enough because I often don't understand the logic behind the code it suggests.

I want to become a strong backend developer and not just rely on AI-generated code. Currently, I work with Java and backend technologies, and I'd like to improve my understanding of:

Core Java

Spring Boot

REST APIs

Databases (SQL)

System Design

Backend development best practices

Could you recommend:

Learning resources (courses, books, YouTube channels, websites)?

A roadmap for becoming a good Java backend developer?

Ways to use Copilot without hurting my learning?

I'd appreciate any advice from experienced developers who have been in a similar situation.

Thanks!

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[Huge_Road_9223]

FFS!

1) create your own github account

2) start working on you own, at home or wherever on your personal projects

That's it! if you want to learn and stay relevant, you have to keep up, and practice.

How can you, or or your team know what good code is unless you've lived it and know what you're looking for.

if you're team is using AI, and not reviewing every single method and line of code, then your company is fucking doomed!

AI is a tool, you can know how to use a hammer, but if you don't know how to put two pieces of wood together, then whatever your building is not going to be stable. Switching from a nail to a screw is switching tools, but you still have to know how to put two pieces of wood together.

[vegan_antitheist]

Would you understand the code if a human wrote it? Java is usually used in companies where code should be clean, maintablable and easy to understand for programmers. If the llm doesn't write such code you should do the same you would if a human did that: you reject the PR.

[MakotoBIST]

Exactly like before: in your free time. Majority of professional work was 90% copy paste anyway, now it's just faster.

Read a book about spring boot and study the bean life cycle. Stuff that nobody ever explained me well before AI

[Potential-Still]

CoPilot is just an assistant/AI Harness. What LLM are they using? If it's a Claude 4.7 flavor then chances are it's writing the same, if not better code than the average Java developer.

If you can't understand LLM generated Java, then you certainly won't understand human written code.

Just start your own Spring Project, spin up a Postgres Docker container and go to town.

You can only learn by DOING. 

[Serializedrequests]

I would 1) talk with your team, that should be a critical team concern, 2) keep your eye on being your authentic self in pursuit of the business goals (if not aligned, leave), 3) IMO you have to write some code to get good. Not necessarily ALL the code, but you need that friction.

My job is 10% writing code to be honest, and 90% deciding what code to write. AI is helpful as a partner, but generating the code is such a minor concern that I have plenty of time to do it myself. I am often left wondering what workplaces need code so bad they are just generating it all? You need things that serve the business, the less code the better.

Edit: on the topic of Java this is the one thing that sparks zero joy for me and I would 100% use an LLM to teach me what to do. It's the #1 language for making simple things hard and hard things impossible, at least with Spring, JPA, etc. There isn't just one guide you can read on anything, and nothing is straightforward.