It has been over 25 years since Java was introduced in the IT industry. It had surpassed every other programming language and dominated the world of software development. However, the technology landscape has become more dynamic than ever, and new technologies are disrupting the industry. Many powerful languages like Swift, Python, Rust, etc., have been introduced, and you may want to rethink if learning Java is still worth it. Don’t modern-day employers look for many other skills apart from Java? Well, you may get such an impression at the beginning. But, indexes like TIOBE and Stack Overflow still list Java among the most popular languages.
Java’s consistency, stability, innovation, usage in a wide range of applications are some of the crucial factors that have it so successful. The State of Developer Ecosystem 2020 report by JetBrains found that Java is the most popular primary programming language among developers. Java developers still earn lucrative salaries; the average base pay is around $70K in the US, according to Payscale. You can find the highest-paid Java developers in Arlington and San Francisco. So, it is safe to say that learning Java is still worth it if you are planning to start a career in web development.
If you have decided to learn Java, you would probably be looking for a free Java course online. Though a lot of training providers have stepped in and offered comprehensive programs on programming languages, only a few of them upgrade their content and offer high-quality content. This article aims to help you find the most suitable Java course for beginners.
Here goes the list.
Java Training – Free Java Basics Course for Beginners
Training offered by – SkillUp by Simplilearn
This free Java course is ideal for individuals who want to learn about Core Java 8 functions, operators, methods, constructors, and arrays. It covers JDBC and JUnit framework along with Java Servlets, SOA, and web services. You will have a clear understanding of Java with 9 hours of comprehensive video modules that you can access for 90 days after enrollment. Professionals who are seeking a career as a Java architect, software developer, or Java programmer can also take this course.
Top skills covered – Core Java 8 concepts, Java EE, Hibernate and Spring framework, Multithreading string handling, exception handling, and J2EE HTTP protocol and HTML.
Upgrade plans – You can also consider taking Simplilearn’s paid courses like Java Certification Training Course to learn more advanced concepts and work on industry projects.
Learn Java
Training Offered by – Codecademy
This Java course exposes you to the fundamental programming concepts along with object-oriented programming (OOP) using Java. You will gain practical experience by developing seven projects based on Java, like a basic calculator. The entire syllabus is divided into 11 lessons, and you would need to spend a total of 25 hours to complete the course. There are no prerequisites associated with the course.
Top skills covered – Java data types, variables, object-oriented programming in Java, create instances, conditionals and control flow in Java programs, arrays and Arraylists, and debugging.
Upgrade plans – You can earn a certification of completion when you apply for Pro membership. Codecademy also offers courses on other languages like HTML, Python, SQL, Ruby, Swift, and so on.
Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming with Java I: Foundations and Syntax Basics
Training offered by – The Georgia Institute of Technology on edX
If you want to gain a foundational overview of Java and learn about its basic syntax, then this course is for you. You will have a clear understanding of how to build interactive console programs with basic data processing and formatting capabilities through this program. You need to spend 5 to 6 hours per week so as to complete the course in 6 weeks’ time. The program also covers how to allow programmers to think of solutions in terms of classes and objects.
Top skills covered – executing Java programs, casting manifest in Java, creating objects of existing classes, taking inputs from the terminal, decision-making statements in Java, modularity and reusability in the context of methods.
Upgrade Plans – This free course is a part of the Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming with Java Professional Certificate Program by Georgia Tech. You can take the paid Professional Certificate training to learn more advanced concepts.
Java Programming Basics
Training offered by – Udacity
This course helps you take the first step towards becoming a seasoned Java developer by explaining to you the basic foundation in Java syntax. The program lets you understand how Java keeps track of information through data types and variables, creating conditional statements, loops and functions to process information, and using IntelliJ, a Java IDE that programmers use to develop, compile, and debug code. The course is suitable for beginners and takes approx 6 weeks to complete.
Top skills covered – Java syntax, creating variables, if-else and switch-case statements, creating functions, use a 2D array to store information, install and use IntelliJ IDE to find problems in code.
Upgrade Plans – After you complete this Java basics course, Udacity recommends you to take its paid Android Basics by Google Nanodegree program to learn how to build Android apps.