If you’re looking to start a career as a coder, you might have considered whether you need to learn Java, JavaScript or other programming languages to find the best job.
Clearly, for those with no experience, it’s best to start with the basics and work your way up. That’s why at Ubiqum Code Academy we have two programs designed and curated to take people who are fresh to the world of tech to a position where they can start their new digital career. These courses are:
- Full Stack Web Development with Java — 5 months
- Full Stack Web Development with JavaScript/MERN — 3 months
Web Development Programs with Ubiqum: What’s the difference?
Both of our Web Development courses focus on the frontend of apps and websites. We start off by teaching you the two basic frontend languages which talk to internet browsers: HTML and CSS. These two languages set the stage for your first static web pages. We take you from no previous knowledge of coding to developing your first website in just two weeks.
The third language to learn is JavaScript. This is a simple, modern programming language that breathes life into your frontend applications. With JavaScript, you go from a static to a dynamic website with animation, user interaction, and data processing.
These three languages — HTML, CSS and JavaScript — qualify you to be a Front-end Developer.
However, to be a complete Full-stack Developer, you need to learn backend skills. At Ubiqum, we offer two options:
A simple yet effective route is to use JavaScript and MERN (MongoDB, Express, React, Node.js). The more complex option is to use Java, which despite its apparent relation to JavaScript, is in fact a completely different coding language. Both alternatives have their advantages and disadvantages, but in this article, we’re going to look at the advantages of learning Java.
Why learn Java?
There are two strands of reasoning that make learning Java a good investment. The first is focused on the technical side, which may not be a priority for you right now, but will help you further down the line.
Technical advantages of learning Java
Simplicity
One of the most important things is that Java is not a complex language at all. In fact, the learning curve is very short, so you can quickly become familiar with the terms and functions that the language uses. With Ubiqum courses, your preparation starts with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, which makes Java even easier. Although it may seem far off at the moment, 95% of our students complete their course, and you can too.
Object-oriented
If you don’t know much about programming, you may be wondering what “objects” are. Objects encapsulate information, classes, and functions, and can be recycled and compiled to break complex program architectures into simple modules. This helps you avoid writing copious amounts of original code for large and complex projects.
Distributed applications
With Java you get distributed applications. These networked applications run on a distributed platform and work seamlessly in internet applications, video games and much more.
Good and easy compilation
Another advantage of Java is its compilation. The compilation is so good that it comes very close to machine language and allows the application to run on different operating systems without the need for adaptation.
Safety
Another of Java’s virtues is its security. Besides being an open-source language, its programs are so perfectly and originally compiled that you won’t have any problems with security filters or anything like that. You can rest assured that for web applications made with Java, you’ll have maximum security.
So that’s the technical advantages in a nutshell, now it’s time to move on to the professional advantages.
Professional advantages of learning Java
Fundación Telefónica drew up an employment map based on more than 80,000 job offers in Spain published between September and December 2021 (at the time of publication of this article) on Infojobs, Tecnoempleo and TicJob.
The study showed that the most in-demand programming languages are: Java, JavaScript, HTML, CSS and Python (for data analysis), in that order. We can also see that those who learn Java have many different pathways available to them from System Administration, IT Consultancy, Mobile Development, QA Testing, Software Developers, and much more.
Why is Java the most in-demand language?
Java has history. During the 90’s, when the internet appeared and technology as we know it changed forever, large corporations found that they had a huge investment in systems with an approach and architecture that was not designed for the network. They were basically large, highly centralized transactional systems programmed in Cobol.
With the emergence of the internet and apps, engineers had to figure out how to make these legacy systems compatible with the new needs of the internet. Their solution was to build an intermediate software layer (middleware) that could make the connection between old systems and new apps. The programming language they chose was Java, which Sun Microsystems had recently created in 1995.
Nowadays, the list of banks, insurance companies, car manufacturers, retailers, and more that use Java is long, but Java isn’t just for large traditional companies. Big tech giants of the last 25 years are also fans, including Uber, Airbnb, Google, Netflix, Pinterest, Instagram, Spotify, and many other large and medium-sized companies all over the world.
Learning Java is a great bet for your career, with great employability and plenty of room for growth as a Full-stack Developer.
Ubiqum: a course tailored to your needs
The options to learn Java are rather limited. Most bootcamps don’t run Java courses, and it’s even rarer to find both face-to-face and online classes. However, at Ubiqum, with our project based/learning by doing methodology, you can learn the most in-demand languages for the market in just 5 months and launch a new career in tech.