Java language had arrived more than a decade ago and gave a tremendous boost to the Object Oriented programming. The response and acceptance of Java in all corners has been overwhelming and it is treated as an industry standard. Infact, it is now part of curriculum in almost all universities. It has a lasting impact in the software industry. Its presence cannot be ignored. Many enterprises have accepted Java as a major language/platform for delivering services. IBM, Oracle, JBoss (part of RedHat) are few such big names. There are ever-growing sites dedicated to Java for various activities like training, discussion forums, covering technological advancements and news.
What kind of applications can be developed using Java? Well, you only have to start guessing and the list grows bigger and bigger. We can develop:
1) Stand-alone desktop application using Java SE
2) Web Applications using Servlets and JSP (innumerable Frameworks on top of these are available)
3) Enterprise scale applications based on Java EE, where Middleware services like Distributed scenario, Security, Transactions, Messaging and Scalability are of utmost importance).
4) Integration with other platform using Web Services
5) Applications for handheld devices based on Java ME.
With powerful features which include platform independence, automatic garbage collection, multithreading support etc combined with ever growing APIs added with every version, there is a virtual shift towards Java, especially in the Enterprise world. Java is considered as the natural language for enterprise solutions, which did not have a unified approach and proper tools. Several APIs are available for implementing Server side, Client side as well as Middleware in three tier applications. Java based applications are developed for all kinds of domains/verticals. Banking, insurance, medical, e-commerce, wireless are to name a few. With shift towards implementing Intranet and Internet based applications in the corporate world, there is tremendous demand for Java professionals.
How can an individual plan and make a career out of Java? There has to be a path one has to choose and stick to it. To begin with, one must develop good programming skills and logic. Every programming language will have a software development kit and Java is no exception. Begin by installing Java Development Kit - aka JDK (available at http://java.sun.com) and start learning/programming using Java language fundamentals. If you are an Engineering/MCA student, you probably have started learning Java language. Although there are many books available for learning Java, this URL should be treated as an official starting pointhttp://java.sun.com/developer/onlineTraining.
Learning the language fundamentals would give a strong foundation, however it not sufficient for procuring a job in the competitive world out there. Those desiring to be professional Java developers should horn their skill in advanced Java technologies like JDBC, Servlets, JSP, RMI, EJB, JPA, JMS. You can as well rely on professional training organization/institute for your proper and in-depth induction into the Java world. The experience and expertise of instructors at such training organizations cannot be undermined.
Majority of Java applications requirement / deployment are at the Server side where J2EE / JavaEE is a predominant standard for developing applications although Java on mobile devices has its own charm. A tentative search on popular job site like www.dice.com by trying to count and compare the number of jobs in different categories would give a proper understanding of what is more in demand in the industry.
To prove your knowledge and the acquired skills, you may as well appear for the different Java related certifications. Certifications are essential for the beginners. They boost the confidence, will let you know where you stand and the industry does recognize the standard certifications.
Further blog entries would be written on the various levels of certifications available for Java. We would also delve into Java based technologies and APIs to understand their significance.
Good luck.
(Author of this article is a leading Java trainer and consultant with more than decade of experience and part of STUDENTYUVA's Advisory Board)
0 comments:
Post a Comment