In the world of high-level programming, C++ and Java are the two most dominant languages to code in, and the fundamentals of both are similar at the base level. Still, as we advance, things start turning quite interesting as the differences increase.

Java Programming (as a language) is a very simple language with diverse and complex features. Java programming provides a compelling programming experience as it has source code organized within classes and objects, hence impacting the reusability of the code and the performance of the program at the same time. It also has quite compelling features to offer by which one can perform web development, android development, enterprise-level software development, and much more.

This is a brand new blog-tutorial series, i.e., Java Beginner Tutorials Series by GeekonPeak, led by a new and experienced instructor, “Rohan” I hope you’ll love him with this marvelous journey of learning and gaining experience in Java. I’m here to say “Hi!” as it’s been time since I’ve written a blog after C++. You’ll find some blogs from me as well (like this one), but Rohan will be the lead and core instructor of the Java Beginner Series. Get ready, as the Java-licious game is about to begin 😉

What is Java?

Java is a high-level, general-purpose, robust programming language well-known in the industry for its simplicity, versatility, and robust security features. Java was developed by James Gosling and his team at Sun Microsystems (now acquired by Oracle) in the mid-1990s to create a platform-independent language. James and his team also focused on simplicity, security, and robustness, resulting in the growth of Java as a backbone of the digital world, powering countless applications, websites, and enterprise software solutions.

Java is also an Object Oriented Programming (OOP/OOPs) Language, which means it follows the principles of encapsulation, abstraction, inheritance, and polymorphism. It would allow users to reuse and organize the code into different classes and objects. Hence, helping the developers to develop complex programs and codes more simply and easily. Java is also the primary language for Android development, web applications, and enterprise-level software, and it has tons of professional applications.

The language is designed to be beginner-friendly, with a syntax similar to other popular programming languages such as C++ and C#. The one key feature with which Java was launched, “write once, run anywhere,” was a significant success for the Java programming language and a boon to the programming community, thanks to JVM (Java Virtual Machine).

History of Java

Java has its roots in the early 90s, when James Gosling, a Canadian computer scientist, and a team of computer engineers started working on a new programming language under Sun Microsystems. The project was initially named “Oak,” inspired by the oak tree outside Gosling’s office. But the project was later renamed “Java” due to trademark issues. Java was aimed to create a language that could run seamlessly into consumer electronic devices while providing a secure and robust environment for programming.

Java gained popularity due to its unique and salient features and unique tagline, “write once, run anywhere,” which described Java’s platform independence, allowing programmers to code that could be executed universally on any device with the help of JVM (Java Virtual Machine)—the Java Virtual Machine act as a bridge between Java bytecode and underlying operating system code.

In 1996, Sun Microsystems released JAVA 1.0, the first stable version of Java, unveiling various core features of Java, such as Java Development Kit (JDK), Java Runtime Environment (JRE), and Java class library. Then Sun Microsystems continued to evolve Java, and the influence of Java expanded over web development and applets. It became the industry-choice language for enterprise software development, offering robustness, scalability, and portability.

The introduction of Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) provided a comprehensive platform for building large-scale, server-side applications. In comparison, Java Standard Edition (Java SE) consists of class libraries, virtual machines, and deployment environment programming. It makes Java SE perfect for programmers to learn and start with the Java platform and its’ basics, including Java Runtime Environment (JRE), Java Virtual Machine (JVM), Java Development Kit (JDK), Java IDE, etc. 

Since 2010, Oracle Corp has been responsible for developing Java as it has acquired Sun Microsystems. Java has continued evolving with regular releases, introducing new language features and enhancements.

Key Features of Java

Java has tons and tons of salient features, which could convince you to learn Java, but you would be exemplary at learning Java if you’ve already learned another mainstream programming language, such as C++ or Python. Still, if you’re new to programming, you’ve chosen a little hard nut to crack, and then again, life’s no fun without some challenging stuff, so bring it on! and let’s get over some of the lucrative ones (for the greater good 😉

Platform Independent

Java’s “write once, run anywhere” principle makes it highly portable. It was made possible by Java Virtual Machine (JVM) as Java programs can be executed on any system with a JVM, allowing you to develop applications that can run seamlessly on different platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and more. This versatility is advantageous in today’s multi-platform world as Java was designed to run on any consumer electronic device, and now the scope has become magnificent.

Object-Oriented Programming

Java Programming is an object-oriented programming (OOP) language allowing Java programs to use objects and classes to organize and manage the code. You’ll gain a solid foundational understanding of the OOP topics such as abstraction, polymorphism, inheritance, and encapsulation, which will provide a foundation for building modular and maintainable code. By learning Java, you’ll not only learn the syntax and the basics and the code and core concepts of Java. You’ll also learn how to implement the object-oriented approach in real-time programming, strengthening your logic-building and problem-solving skills as you can identify the problems and organize the path efficiently.

Rich Standard Library

Java offers an extensive standard library with a wide range of pre-built classes and methods for programming purposes, making it faster and more accessible for programmers to code a new program. The library makes coding easier by simplifying the development process and saves a lot of time by providing ready-made solutions. Java also has a vibrant ecosystem and community support as it has a collection of open-source libraries, tools, and comprehensive frameworks to extend the functionalities and capabilities of Java. Rich Support in programming ultimately benefits efficient programming and rapid application development.

Memory Management and Security

Java offers automatic memory management thanks to its garbage collection mechanism. In Java, Programmers don’t have to deallocate memory explicitly, as Java’s runtime environment handles memory allocation and deallocation automatically. This feature minimizes the occurrence of memory leaks and null pointer exceptions, making Java applications more stable and reliable.

Java also prioritizes security and incorporates various features to protect against vulnerabilities. Java already has built-in security mechanisms, such as sandboxing and bytecode verification, to prevent unauthorized access. These measures have made Java popular for developing secure software systems, especially in enterprise environments.

Why Should You Learn Java?

There are many reasons to learn Java; despite having magnanimous features, there are more plus points for learning Java and gaining the upper edge in your programming for hacking and securing a well-paying job.

Career Opportunities and Job Market

Java skills are in high demand in the job market, especially in enterprise software development, Android app development, backend web development, managing big data, etc. You can learn, master, and excel in Java with GeekonPeak and get some good skills under your sleeves that companies must find intriguing. Mastering Java increases your chances of securing lucrative job opportunities and establishing a successful career in the software industry.

Community and Support

Java has a large and active developer community. This means you’ll have access to abundant resources, forums, online communities, and learning materials to seek help, share knowledge, and collaborate with fellow Java enthusiasts. GeekonPeak is also working on a solid forum for programmers to seek help from a single forum portal for free. We shall be announcing that soon, but till then, you can also ask us doubts using the comments, and we shall help you with all we’ve got. The strong community support ensures you’ll have guidance and assistance throughout your learning journey.

Android Development

Java is the primary programming language in the Android mobile application development field, allowing developers to develop various efficient Android mobile applications using the source code of Java. Most applications published on the Android’s Google Play Store are powered by Java source codes only. Android Studio is the official integrated development environment (IDE) for Android development. It uses Java programs and source code as its primary coding and compilation language.

Enterprise Software

Java is widely used for developing enterprise-level software solutions. It provides a robust platform for building large-scale enterprise-level applications such as customer relationship management (CRM) systems, financial software, supply chain management systems, human resources management systems, etc.

Conclusion

So far, by now, you must be aware that Java is one of the most powerful languages out there, with unlimited potential for growth and advancement. And I’m sure you would be looking forward to joining the geeky Java Journey with GeekonPeak.

We, “the geeks,” would expect you guys to follow us with the JOJ, i.e., Journey of Java, where you can learn a lot of technical stuff for your experience and upskilling. Later you can use this experience to dwell great results in the long run. Hence we, “the geeks,” begin the Java Journey from this blog onwards.

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