What is Java programming?

Java programming is broadly defined as language used for computer programming which is concurrent in nature, is broadly class-based & object-oriented.

The whole frame of focus behind developing java language is to reduce implementation dependencies as much as possible.

Java programming language works on the principle of WORA (Write once, run anywhere) which broadly means that once the code is compiled, it can be run on all java supported platforms without being rewritten.

Java is a statically typed programming language used to build tasks like web development, android development, enterprise-class application, and IoT.

What Does a Java Developer Do?

Responsible for developing applications and software using the Java programming language, these specialized programmers collaborate with fellow software engineers, web developers, and others to use Java for developing business applications, websites and more.

They are active throughout the entire development life cycle of a product or solution. They are capable of identifying and analyzing any problems that come up and crafting efficient solutions. Depending on what’s needed, employers look for both entry-level and senior Java developers.

Mobile App Development

Java has been the go-to language for years in this field. Although it might not be of much use in IOS development, it is beneficial when working with android studio.

That being said, the additional skills required, apart from java basics, are:

1. Android studio: This is the official IDE (integrated development environment) for the android operating system. It gives you a development environment and access to android development tools (SDK tools). It supports Java, Kotlin, and C++.
2. Emulator: This is important to test and debug your mobile applications during development. It is used to simulate a mobile environment inside a PC. Although Android Studio does provide an emulator extension with it, there are many other popular choices like vMac, NoxPlayer, Dolphin, etc.
3. User Interface(UI) design: Although this is not of much use for a senior developer who probably has a UI designer in their team, it is a necessary skill when you are just starting out or working for a startup. You only need to know the basics

There are many more skills like getting APIs, handling and parsing XML, etc. but these should get you started.

Web Development

Java has often been used on the server-side or the backend of a web application.

Getting into web development, every developer must know the basics of HTML, CSS, and APIs.

But, to build a java web application, you must get used to a few dynamic resources and tools that java provides like:

• Servlets: A Java class that is used to handle HTTP request
• JavaServer Pages: This is a way of writing Java code with HTML for fast production
• Jars: This is used for the aggregation of files and metadata into one file

Desktop GUI Application

With the Swing toolkit gaining popularity, Java has also become a handy tool for Desktop Application development.

Enterprise application

These applications are used to organize and model business processes for organizations. The main tool used in the development of enterprise software using Java is Java EE or Java Platform, Enterprise Edition.

Games

Did you know that the original version of Minecraft is written in Java? Other legendary games like Revenge of the Titans and Spiral Knights are also developed in Java.

Java is an excellent choice for building games as it helps to build a cross-platform version of the game without extra development costs. Java is also the first choice to build 2D games on Android. With the rising demands in gaming, there are excellent Java career opportunities.

For this, you should be familiar with the physics involved in game development and get used to building multi-threaded applications using Java. Getting to know how the new versions of JVM help improve garbage collection also comes handy.

Even with the rising popularity of game engines like Unity and Unreal, Java is still here to stay.

Scientific Applications

Java is the favorite choice for developers when building applications designed to carry out scientific calculations and a number of mathematical operations. This is mainly because applications built with Java have fast computing and processing speeds. The UI of the commonly used computing environment, MATLAB, is written in Java.

To build a complete scientific application in Java, you must be familiar with using Java with the CUDA toolkit to support GPU computing (which is an important feature to carry out huge amounts of scientific computations). The Rootbeer GPU compiler should help you with that.

The Java Developer Career Path

The Java career path can be broken down into three steps: entry-level, mid-level, and senior-level. Job titles are generally going to be some form of Java developer, but you may also be referred to as software engineers or programmers.

ENTRY-LEVEL JAVA JOBS: JUNIOR JAVA DEVELOPER

Junior Java developer is the entry-level position that most people are qualified to hold after completing a degree or a coding bootcamp. While these roles require the least amount of experience, applicants are still expected to possess solid soft skills as well as being able to program and use Java.

What does a Junior Java Developer do?

Entry-level jobs vary depending on the company or organization, but developers will be dealing with databases on the back end and how users are able to interact with an app or website on the front end. Typically, junior Java developers start working with both back end and front end by adjusting code. Most of the time, entry-level work is going to be improving or editing something that’s already out there, but some entry-level Java developers may get to build something from scratch. 

Junior Java developers generally function as part of a team and they will have several responsibilities. An obvious responsibility is programming in Java, but there are others as well. It’s important to have some database skills and to be able to write queries that access the data.

Soft skills are also largely important for developers. Junior Java developers are likely to be interacting and working with customers, so they need to be able to converse with clients, explain technical issues in a non-technical way, and understand what the client wants to be able to translate those requests into technical terms for their code.

Entry-Level Java Developer Salaries

The salary range for junior Java developers is typically between $40k-$90k. Remember that salaries are highly varied and can fluctuate based on factors like professional experience, personal background, educational experience, and geographical location.

MID-LEVEL JAVA JOBS: JAVA DEVELOPER

Mid-level Java developer roles generally don’t have a special job title. They’re generally going to be listed as something like developer, engineer, consultant, or analyst. For mid-level Java developer roles, employers look for developers with 3-5 years of experience in the field.

What does a Java developer do?

For the most part, mid-level Java developers can expect to have similar roles to junior Java developers. Employers will have higher expectations regarding their skills, and developers will have more responsibilities compared to junior-level developers.

Java Developer Salaries

Mid-level Java developers can expect to see a pay bump compared to entry-level positions. A typical salary range for mid-level Java developers is between $60k-$120k. Many salaries will depend on previous experience since mid-level jobs are generally reserved for individuals who have already worked in the field for some time. Geographical location is also an important factor.

SENIOR-LEVEL JAVA JOBS: SENIOR JAVA DEVELOPER

Employers looking for senior-level Java developers will generally make it clear they’re looking for someone with experience in the job listing. These roles typically require between 5-10 years of experience. These senior-level roles are usually listed as senior Java software developer. 

What does a Senior Java Developer do?

At this level, employers are looking for somebody that can come in to take charge of a team and lead a project. Instead of writing more code, these professionals are reviewing other’s code. They may be doing some programming, but a lot of that is left to junior and mid-level developers. As the senior developer, they review their code. Writing an application involves a lot of testing and senior developers are the ones writing those tests.

Senior Java Developer Salaries

Senior-level Java developers can expect to be paid very well for their services, especially if they have a lot of experience. By the time someone gets to the senior level, they have generally been in the field for some time and they can afford to be a little more selective when looking for a job. A senior-level Java developer can expect to make between $150-$200k.