Maybe you are a good Java Programmer with a massive bundle of knowledge and experience. You are doing good in your current position. You are already good at basic stuff like Coding, Data Structures and Algorithms, and Computer science concepts, e.g. Networking, Protocols, Object-oriented programming, etc. But you feel something is missing in the skill set that can make you a rock star Java developer. Here I have jotted down some points to make you a better Java developer.
1. Know Your IDE
To keep in mind everything you do with your code, you need support from your IDE/Editor. And you spend a lot of time with your IDE. So if you don’t know your IDE, don’t use shortcuts; it can kill your valuable development time. So firstly, choose your favourite IDE and master it. Nowadays, IDEs like IntelliJ IDEA, Eclipse, and NetBeans are the most popular IDE for writing Java Code. I suggest you use IntelliJ IDEA as it has some premium features like Smart Code Completion, On-The-Fly Code Analysis, Advanced Refactoring, Tools and Frameworks Support, etc.
You can learn about some plugins that make your task easy and some keyboard shortcuts to bring your skill to the next level.
One of the most important traits of better Java developers is that they are very good at their tools. They not only know more tools than an average developer but also they know their tools well.
2. Learn Newest Features of Java
If you are an excellent Java developer with knowledge of old Java features and are satisfied with that, I will ask you to move on. Though your career learning becomes slow at some point, you can be left behind if you don’t act now. From Java 8 to 16, there is a significant change in Java. Features like Lambdas, Stream API, Functional interfaces, Default methods, Static methods in interface, Record, Sealed Object are widely used by the new generation Java developers.
Even you may not perform well in your technical interviews without knowing the latest features of Java.
3. Choose Right Framework
There are a lot of frameworks out there like Spring, Hibernate, Struts, Google web toolkit [GWT], JavaServer Faces [JSF], Grails, Vaadin, Blade, and many more. You have to choose a framework in which you will be a master. I suggest you use Spring MVC, Spring Boot, and Spring Cloud for web application development and REST APIs Microservices as Spring framework supports best practices like dependency injection and makes your application more testable which is a crucial requirement for today’s software development.
4. Master Unit Testing Skill
Unit testing skills make the difference between an average java developer and a rock star Java developer. You should spend a good amount of your learning time honing your testing skill in Java. For those who are new to Java and the unit testing world, JUnit is the best library to start with. The recent version of JUnit 5 is powerful and flexible, and every Java developer should know it.
Mockito is also a fantastic testing framework for Java. It is an open-source testing tool that allows the creation of test double objects in automated unit testing for Test-Driven Development(TDD).
The principal objective of software testing is to give confidence in the software. — Anonymous
5. Learn “Clean Code”
Every developer can write code that works, but if you want to be a rock star developer, you have to write code that is Understandable, Readable, Changeable, Extensible, and Maintainable.
Any fool can write code that a computer can understand. Good programmers write code that humans can understand. — Martin Fowler
To learn more about Clean Code I recommend you to read the book “Clean Code ” by American Software Engineer and Author Robert C. Martin.
6. Know About Libraries and APIs
Java is the world’s most popular and mature programming language with tremendous community support. Many developers worldwide work day and night to develop open-source libraries and APIs by which you can do almost everything. So, “Don’t reinvent the wheel”. Find the right one and utilize it.
7. Learn DevOps Tools
Nowadays, it is unavoidable for a rock star Java Developer to know about DevOps. With the knowledge of DevOps tools like Jenkins, Docker, Kubernetes, you can offer something unique to any organization and upscale your productivity. It gives you an edge over other people in an interview.
If you want to become more valuable to the organization, DevOps knowledge can play a vital role. It can boost your career growth.
Conclusion I hope these tips will level up your programming skills and separate you from others. Don’t forget to share the information you think has made you a better Java developer.
Have a nice day!