What can I do after I learn Java? A guide for the greenest newbie software developers

If you are just starting to learn Java or are still thinking about which programming language to learn, this article is for you. Finding motivation is much easier when you know your end goal. In the vast world of IT, it is easy to become bewildered — there's a veritable ocean of specializations and positions. To stave off any confusion, we're going to talk about the four most popular areas of software development and show you which technologies you need to master. We hope this information will help you choose your career path.

Backend developer

A backend developer deals with the parts of the application/website/software "under the hood.” And that encompasses a lot of different tasks. This type of development work is about creating an operational "server-application-database" combination by writing code that runs on the server, whether on-site or in the cloud. Backend developers are responsible for the logic, proper operation, and good performance of the application.

Technology stack

Java, MySQL, Hibernate libraries, Spring and Spring MVC frameworks, Docker containerization software, and cloud services — AWS, Google Cloud, Azure, Heroku.

Backend developer tasks

• Design architecture.
• Structure website.
• Implement platform and core functions.
• Write algorithms.

Salary

According to Glassdoor, the average salary for a backend dev in the US is about $113,000 annually. Those at the bottom end of the salary distribution earn $67,000, while those at the upper end can pull in $190,000. But according to Salary.com, the average annual salary of a backend developer is even higher, between $104,127 and $124,366.

Frontend developer

A frontend developer is in charge of the visual part of a website, application, or software. Don't confuse this role with a layout designer — a frontend developer's responsibilities are much wider. Frontend devs not only handle the layout, but also "bring to life" the visual design through pop-up windows, wires up buttons as needed, and interacts with the server side of the application. To work as a frontend developer, you need to master languages such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. Your knowledge of Java will provide the necessary foundation to understand object-oriented programming. In time, a person with frontend development skills can retrain as a backend developer and then as a full-stack developer. So there is room for continued growth.

Technology stack

HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SASS and LESS metalanguages, CSS Flexbox, JQuery library, Angular and Vue.js frameworks, Git, Node.js.

Frontend developer tasks

• Implement new functionality in the website, application or software; improve existing functionality.
• Refactor code to improve performance.
• Review code sent to the server.
• Implement the UI/UX layout created by the designer.
• Track application performance.
• Bug fixing.

Salary

According to Glassdoor, frontend developers in the US earn about $125,000 on average each year. The salary distribution ranges from $84,000 to $188,000. According to Salary.com, on average, frontend devs earn roughly $119,000.

Full-stack developer

A full-stack developer is a Swiss knife in the software development world, a genuinely multifunctional programmer who can handle both frontend and backend tasks. Becoming such a universal soldier isn't easy: you need to have extensive knowledge and rich experience. Naturally, a specialist who works both on the visual part of the application and on the server can become a full-stack developer. In addition, a full-stack dev must have a good idea of how these parts interact and what the project ultimately needs to become.

Technology stack

• Java + Java Core; Apache; JPA/Hibernate; Spring (Spring MVC, Spring Boot, Spring REST, Spring Web), Google Cloud, AWS or Azure; JSP (Java Server Pages).
• HTML and CSS; JavaScript and TypeScript; SASS and LESS preprocessors; jQuery library; Bootstrap framework; Angular/React/Vue.js; DOM, AJAX, JSON.

Fullstack developer tasks

• Plan, manage and implement the project.
• Negotiate with clients.
• Test the final web platform and fix bugs.
• Perform quality control on the website or application.
• Provide technical support for developers working on the web service.
• Work with databases, file systems, cloud storage, and network resources.
• Create the visual design.

Salary

The average salary for a full-stack specialist in the US is about $120,000. Salaries for this role vary from $100,000 to $140,000.

Android developer

If you know Java, you can work as an Android developer. Most large companies have apps as an alternative to their website. Additionally, literally every month, dozens of new apps appear, and you can also get a job working on them. A mobile app developer has many tasks and responsibilities that require different levels of training, from working on an app's internal structure to implementing an API.

Technology stack

Java, Android Studio, Android SDK, Git, Retrofit libraries, Moshi, Chuck, Timber.

Android developer tasks

• Develop mobile apps for Android OS.
• Interact with databases and APIs.
• Test and debug software at several stages.
• Upload the finished product to the Google Play Store.
• Support and update the app.
• Prepare product documentation and instructions.

Salary

The average salary for an Android developer in the US is roughly $100,000. At the bottom end of the salary distribution, Android devs earn $62,000. Those at the upper end enjoy salaries around $162,000 per year.

How do programmers work as a team? How it works at CodeGym

We've discussed various developer specializations, but what does the work look like when it happens on a team? Let's tell you how the development team works at CodeGym. First, a little about CodeGym offerings. In simple terms, they consist of:

• server
• database
• frontend
• plugin
• Android app
• iOS app (not yet released)

This division of the service into parts is necessary to illustrate what the developers are doing, since the CodeGym has frontend, backend, fullstack, and mobile developers. Frontend devs create the visual part of the service, improve quest loading speed, and add new localized versions of the website (for example, the Ukrainian version of the user interface recently appeared on CodeGym). Backend developers create the server side of the product, including adding new functionality to the website. For example, CodeGym recently translated notifications into various languages and began to determine the country during user registration. Additionally, backend developers make the website work with three-way APIs. What does that mean? Why bother writing your own solutions — spending time and money on coding, testing, and support — if there are already ready-made solutions are suitable for your service, and all you need to do is start using them? In this case, backend developers write code that helps the website interact with third-party APIs (if we treat the program as a black box, then the API is the set of external "knobs" available to whoever is using the box — they can be twisted and pulled). Fullstack devs handle frontend or backend tasks, or tasks that affect both ends — for example, automatic comment updates, functionality where new comments appear on the webpage without reloading it. Our Android and IOS developers create and maintain mobile apps (the iOS app is not yet released). Our tester checks new features, checks, verifies bug fixes, looks for bugs and monitors product quality. Although each developer has their own set of tasks, there are also responsibilities related to general planning and discussion, since achieving big goals is always the work of many specialists. Have you already decided who you want to work after you finish your training? We look forward to your comments.