Resources for Getting Started with Java

Java technology seems to be everywhere, but what exactly is Java? This link explains how Java technology is both a programming language and a platform, and provides an overview of what this technology can do for you.

Once you've read the crux of Java, let's jump into the language.

This link covers the fundamentals of programming in the Java programming language.

Once you keep coding, you may stumble upon a few language specifications. Go ahead and read the specifications.

Just reading is not enough for any language, so let's write some code.

In order to compile and run your code, you need JDK — a Java bundle that has all the tools inside. Remember that JDK is OS specific. Choose your package carefully.

You've started writing code, but where? Choose your IDE, the development environment. As shown in the link, Oracle suggesting NetBeans on its site.

However, I personally like Eclipse IDE. Download Eclipse.

If you don't like writing code in an IDE, you can use a simple textpad, Notepad.

A program has to be converted to a form the Java VM can understand — that way any computer with a Java VM can interpret and run the program.

Compiling a Java program means taking the programmer-readable text in your program file (also called source code) and converting it into bytecodes, which are platform-independent instructions for the Java VM.

Writing code doesn't make you a good programmer. Writing good code does.

Whenever I start writing code on a new topic, the first thing I do is visit this site and familiarize myself with some best practices. Because object-oriented programming is easy to use, it's easy to make mistakes. This site will help you adopt helpful best practices.

This resource gives you a brief introduction to using Swing. After telling you about Swing, it walks you through how to compile and run a program that uses Swing packages.

Using JARs, you can either import others' code to your project or export your own code.

This article provides an overview of the Java technologies involved in creating various types of web applications, tells you when you might decide to use them, and provides links to get you started. Future articles will cover how to use these technologies to build web applications.

The Java compiler compiles the human-readable source code – the stuff you’ve written – to machine-readable bytecode. This bytecode has been designed without a particular hardware in mind.

Instead, it runs on a virtual machine. In other words, it runs on a computer that doesn’t exist as hardware, but has been implemented in software.

Maven is a tool that can now be used for building and managing any Java-based project. We hope we've created something that will make the day-to-day work of Java developers easier and help with comprehending any Java-based project in general.

This is another site I use very frequently to show some running code online or to demonstrate some compiling errors to other people.

It is not possible to explain certain problems without proof. I just copy and paste my code onto Ideone.com and run it. It even generates a link for you to use in the future.

The most beautiful thing about it is that you can select the JDK version. When you want to execute a piece of code in some other JDK that you're not currently using, this site is gold.

Stack Overflow is one of the world's largest Q&A stack exchange sites. I use Stack Overflow almost every day to ask/answer questions.

Not only can you get your problems solved there, you'll also be able to explore the problems that fellow programmers face. You'll find super Java developers there. Just remember to follow the Java tag.

Here's another website in the stack exchange network.

Stack Exchange is useful for code review. When you have no seniors around to review your code, or if you want expert suggestions on the code blocks you wrote, go ahead and post it here.

I'm sure that you'll get your answers and suggestions, from experts, in no time.

Last, but not the least, on the list is Codementor, the godsend.

If you're 100% stuck and none of the article/answers are working, it's time to reach out to Codementor and find suitable experts/mentors to get you unstuck and hold your hand until you clear up the mess.

Trust me. It works, and you're gonna love it ️.