According to the TIOBE Index for July 2022, Java is still one of the most popular programming languages in the world despite 25+ years of existence and the appearance of new, fresh programming languages. No wonder it's also one of the languages with the most extensive database. There is no scarcity of articles, tutorials, books, websites, communities, Youtube blogs, and other materials that can help you learn it quickly and effectively. But while some of them offer an overview of various Java concepts, others provide an in-depth analysis of specific Java topics. And to help you find learning "boosters" for every your needs, we have developed this guide of the best Java books, videos, and more.
First, let's start with something simple and focus on beginner's best Java books. This brief shortlist include tutorials with step-by-step explanation to help you understand the core of Java fundamentals. As you may guess, these are ideal books for students that only started learning to code in Java.
All the books from this collection provide a thorough introduction to Java that, along with the CodeGym course, will have you writing programs and solving problems in no time.
In brief, these books are like a thorough guide that tells you how to create a program, overcome the common programming challenges in Java, and so on. If you get stuck with a specific topic, the chances are that you will get a clear explanation in this collection of books.
What is excellent, even though the books in this selection use different approaches to presenting core concepts, they all are not too text-heavy and include lots of visuals to engage your brain.
Once you're done with the basics of Java, you'll naturally need to move forward to more complicated books. This collection includes six books for beginners and 11 for advanced learners that will help you strengthen your knowledge and become acquainted with some valuable topics in real-world coding. Besides the books for different skill levels, this shortlist includes eight general-purpose books on programming for everyone. The latter books can broaden your coding horizon and teach you significant programming concepts and how to create clean code and start a successful programming career.
It's not a book guide but a fully-fledged review of the famous book "Java For Dummies" by Barry Burd. As the name implies, the text from this review is aimed at beginners - it's very well-structured and full of valuable recommendations. It's not a programming textbook like you can imagine, but a handbook that is better to read simultaneously with our step-by-step lessons.
Dissimilar to many other programming textbooks that are supposed to be read from the very first to the very last page, "Java For Dummies" is created so that you can read exactly the part you need right now without missing something fundamental. Moreover, you can find recommendations by the author in the section "What you don't have to read."
Overall, the book consists of 5 parts:
Part 1. Getting started with Java includes three chapters to reveal modern approaches to programming for complete dummies.
Part 2. Writing your own Java program. Already in the second part, you'll learn more about the main elements of a program and even get an opportunity to write your program.
Part 3. OOP. This part is dedicated to Object-Oriented Programming principles (OOP), classes, and objects. Also, it contains chapters about working with files and constructors of types.
Part 4. Smart Java Techniques. This very "info-rich" part is dedicated to variables and their usage, exceptions, arrays, collections, generics, and streams. In addition, the chapters are full of good explanations and coding exercises to help students understand new techniques better.
Part 5. The Part of Tens. The final part includes tips and hints on avoiding typical mistakes and where to look for help if you get stuck.
It is another masterpiece from the 'Dummies' series that was written by Dr. Burd, a famous professor at the University of Illinois who boasts of an M.S. in Computer Science. The author also has solid experience in training professional programmers, so he knows his onions in teaching how to code.
The simple approach and friendly tone lure many future Android developers into reading this book. In addition, Dr. Burd's explanations are well-structured and easy to read, even for those with zero programming background.
What to expect after reading this book? Grasping Java concepts and ability to write Android apps from scratch and maintain and debug them.
Video Tutorials
Books are great, but sometimes video tutorials can also kickstart your journey. Why videos? New book editions are rarely released, but Java and technologies generally evolve at a furious pace. And one of the best ways to keep up with them is to visit Youtube bloggers that constantly post new videos with Java updates, tools, and excellent hints.
We have added some of the best YouTube channels that can be particularly valuable for Java students in our article Top 10 Best YouTube Channels for Java Developers. It includes 5 Best YouTube Сhannels for Java Beginners and 5 Best YouTube Channels for Experienced Java programmers to suit any level.
Also, you may be interested in our The Most Popular Influencers in Java to Follow guide that includes top YouTube channels, top Java blogs, and top Twitter users to follow.
What's More?
Once you soak in the knowledge, it's high time to think about preparation for your first Job offer and, particularly, job interview.
Java Junior Interview Prep. Best Websites With Questions, Videos, and Mock Interviews can make the process less painful. It reveals multiple ways to prepare for an interview when applying for a job in software development. The article can also shed light on the most frequently asked questions and how to answer them. As a bonus, the report provides links to the best developer's job interview prep platforms that can speed up the process of getting your first Java developer job.
Conclusion
Books, blogs, and video tutorials are fabulous, but when it comes to computer programming languages, the best way to learn Java comes down to practice. Of course, all the abovementioned resources may reach you in great handy, but what matters the most is your training (coding) again and again in our CodeGym.
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