Ask an Expert: What Makes a Strong Java Developer?
Good Java developers have technical expertise (there’s no question). But strong Java developers have technical expertise, fundamental soft skills, and more.
Java, an object-oriented programming language, remains in the top three of the most widely used programming languages in 2021. And as a direct result, Java jobs are in high demand. The programming language itself is incredibly versatile and can be understood in a short span of time as it has a syntax like English, though it does take time to master.
From laptops to datacenters, game consoles to scientific supercomputers, cell phones to the Internet, Java is everywhere. Companies such as Uber, Google, Instagram, Spotify, and other Fortune 500 companies use Java in their tech stack, proving Java’s effectiveness and reliability.
We sat down with one of our Java developer consultants, Zach Zimdars, to dive into roles and responsibilities, along with the top qualities that make for a master Java developer. Read on for Zach’s thoughts.
So, what does a Java developer do?
We’re glad you asked. Java developers are responsible for various tasks during the development lifecycle of applications, from concept and design right through to testing, like many other programming languages. Because Java is used so widely, especially by large organizations, the daily roles vary widely but can include owning a particular application or working on several at once. Here are additional responsibilities they may have:
Conduct software analysis, programming, testing, and debugging
Recommend changes to improve established java application processes
Participating in software and architectural development activities
Depending on your workplace, another responsibility and collaboration opportunity may be pair programming. Zach has the chance to support both strategic business initiatives along with coaching and mentoring junior-mid-level engineers with hands-on coding in his role. Pair programming among teams like Zach’s leads to fewer mistakes, higher efficiency, and opens the doors for endless knowledge sharing. Pairing allows team members to foresee and develop innovative solutions while leveraging previous experiences to roadblocks, including building code, running unit test cases all the way to successful deployment in the cloud, and more.
What makes a strong Java developer?
While Java developers’ responsibilities may vary, there are 3 qualities that can turn a good developer into a master:
Expertise in the Java language. While this may sound obvious, Java has its nuances and intricacies. Delving into new constructs and mechanisms prompts more effective and advanced knowledge of the programming language. Issues may not always be as obvious even for experienced developers. The key to harnessing the language is to look at roadblocks in a more complete sense, Zach said.
Motivation. Knowledge about any subject is nearly useless without motivation as the driver. Knowing all the ins and outs of the Java language is not enough. Applying that knowledge without motivation doesn’t work. Zach shared about his motivation to think outside of the box when facing issues and roadblocks in his Java projects. After all, motivation encourages working toward improving your code, writing more unit tests, and reflecting on what you could do better in the future.
Curiosity. Curiosity-driven Java developers become strong developers by fueling their ambitions. Anyone can be a Java developer, but only the curious ones excel at their coding craft and stand out from the rest. Curiosity works together with motivation (#2 above) while learning to avoid boredom. In addition, it highlights new learning opportunities that may often be overlooked.
No matter where you’re at as a Java developer, looking at and building upon your expertise, motivation, and curiosity can only help propel you into endless career opportunities.
Follow along on our Agility Connect blog as we explore more with the Java career path, hot tech gigs and skills, and so much more!