CodeGym /Java Blog /Random /Is Java a Hard Nut to Crack for You?
Lucy Oleschuk
Level 31

Is Java a Hard Nut to Crack for You?

Published in the Random group
One of the most confusing things that may happen to students who are just starting to code is being told that programming is easy. In reality, things are entirely different. A famous American computer scientist, Alan Kay, has hit the bull's-eye by saying, "The most disastrous thing you can ever learn is your first programming language." Of course, most programming languages (including Java) don't require a prominent brain or exceptional knowledge. Still, they can be more frustrating and trickier than you may let on. Many programming skills are about developing a knack for asking the right questions and knowing which code is to copy-paste. Also, there is one big secret — there is no mastery, there is no final level when it comes to learning Java. So, are you ready for that? Are you able to reach proficiency in coding? And what do you need to become successful in programming? Is Java a Hard Nut to Crack for You? - 1

Identifying Your Goals

Most likely, you've already set your goals and know what you want to get from Java. Would you like to become a Java Developer, an Android Developer, or connect your life with QA Automation? Are you craving to develop Web apps, Android apps, Scientific apps, or create software tools like Eclipse, IntelliJ IDEA, NetBeans IDE, and others? Keep your goal in mind and concentrate the most on those tasks that are close to your goal. For sure, you'll find it a bit easier to learn the Java language when you directly relate it to what you want to do with it in the future. Seeing output that you'll be able to use later will help you stay motivated all the way and will give you tangible proof of your progress. However, don't forget that learning the basics remains crucial, so never skip a topic, never miss a thing. Dissimilar to many other online courses, CodeGym isn't watery and includes only practical information.

Building a Roadmap

The word "code" is somewhat mysterious by definition since it implies a technical form of communication that computers (not humans) are meant to understand. And the way many people start learning to code involves just jumping into Java with no direction. But it's better to start with a roadmap to succeed – we call it a bird's eye view of the coding world that can outline a set of the most-needed skills, Java concepts, and tools. Draw your learning path that should include studying:
  • Java basics (Syntax, Core)
  • OOP principles
  • Java Collections
  • Java exceptions, Input/Output streams
  • Algorithms, patterns
  • Java Multithreading
  • Unit testing
  • etc
Luckily, the CodeGym course is well-structured and covers all of these essential topics in the correct sequence to make things much easier for you.

Setting a Schedule

What can a plan do without a schedule? It would be nice if you set a personal learning schedule comfortable for your lifestyle. Ideally, you should be able to devote 2-3 hours a day to learning Java. Most importantly, you shouldn't take long breaks since they can make huge gaps in your education path. Of course, if you happen to skip a day or two of education, this won't be a big deal, but if such breaks become a habit, they will definitely drag your learning process back. All that just being said, if you have problems with organization, this doesn't mean you will fail to learn Java. Try to organize all your lessons and exercises inside notebooks or files. Believe, you'll find it very useful to have somewhere to go back to when you forget how to fix something you had fixed a week ago. Actually, many successful programmers aim at saving code and solutions to different problems to be able to review them later. Also, you can structure your future lessons a week ahead to stick to the set schedule without the lure to miss a day or two. And to keep yourself even more motivated, you can take full advantage of CodeGym's schedule with all future events and your achievements traced. You would need our Android app installed to receive the reminders that it's time to learn. "For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned." — Benjamin Franklin.

Referring to External Helpers

In your learning plan, you should also include some additional resources that can sharpen your Java knowledge. Of course, our Help, Forum, and Article sections are full of useful information. But to broaden your horizon, you may be interested in reading world-famous books written by professional Java coders. Luckily, many great selections like Must-read books to learn Java programming or Best Books to Learn Java for Beginners and Experts can help you narrow down your choice and easily find what suits you better. Besides reading Java books, you can also benefit from watching Youtube tutorials, especially if you're a person with a strong visual perception. All that just being said, there will come the moment when your motto will sound like "Less watching, more doing." Sooner or later, you should stop just watching videos and reading programming books passively. Practice is essential, which is why our course is more practice-oriented and full of engaging tasks. Our course offers many code examples and coding taks of different complexity to help you become more confident in your programming skills. By learning from existing codes written by professionals, you can significantly improve your programming skills while gradually building your own style. Then, when you feel you're ready for something more challenging and interesting, you can try to start your own coding project, be it a basic app or a game (CodeGym's 'Games' section will come in great handy at that front).

Finding the Right Theory/Practice Balance

The biggest mistake new programmers typically make is focusing on learning too much theory and syntax instead of solving problems. Experience and practice are all it's about, and that's why our course boasts the 80/20 principle to learning. 80% of the content is focused on practical tasks helping you write code and develop your problem-solving skills. And as long as you learn to grind through the problems and frustration, you'll come out on the hill and get a good view of your progress.

Train with CodeGym!

Learning to program is almost the same as building muscles. To gain power, you need to go to the gym and lift heavy weights. To learn Java programming, you need to sit down and code. And just like that muscle soreness you experience the next day after lifting weights, your brain may hurt if you're stuck on a programming problem. Agree that you won't give up exercising simply because of feeling muscle pain. You understand it's part of the process. So even if you get stuck at some point while learning to code, don't start doubting yourself wondering if you are talented enough to complete the course and become a Java professional. It's all about reps and sets. You build the body of your dream by working out. And the longer you train, the stronger you become. Learning Java is exactly the same process. The more time you spend coding, the more proficient you become. So, code, code, and code on a daily basis with a CodeGym to build your Java muscles! Java won't be "a toughie" for you if you outline your goal and choose the right approach and sources for mastering coding. Is Java a Hard Nut to Crack for You? - 2
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Andre M. Level 4, Glenn Dale, United States
19 December 2021
The frustration aspect does take some getting used to. I have discovered that writing comments on the problems help me focus on what needs to happen. I am still very early in my learning, so I am looking forward to more learning of the syntax (as it is all new to me). I save code snippets in OneNote for future reference. I am learning Java in middle age. With the goal of being able to build programs with it. I did a course in Pascal in college as a political science major. (I am doing the course with a full-time non-Java-related job.) Thanks for the article. As I learn more, I hope that I will be able to create a blog post on a Java topic.
FrogTea Level 23
7 December 2021
While learning programming, at the same time you are learning to learn, find keys to your own brain, your own limits. Not everybody are aware of it. thanks for article :) 👍