15 Things Java Developer Should Learn in 2020

Want to start the year off right? Here is a range of topics you can tackle to make yourself a better Java developer from Java 11 to Spring 5.0.

Hello guys, another year is approaching and it’s a good time to look back and retrospect what you have achieved last year and what you could have done better.

This will help you to create your goals for 2020. As a programmer, your biggest challenge is to keep yourself up-to-date. Technology changes very fast and you will see a new version of your favorite programming language and framework coming to every year.

For Java developers, last, a couple of years has brought plentiful changes and posed a challenge with keeping up-to-date with a new Java version every 6 months, Spring 5, Spring Security 5, and Spring Boot 2 etc.



When I started 2019, I thought Java 9 was new and before I could finish learning Java 9 completely, Java 10 and Java 11 was already out.

So, they came really fast but came with a lot of interesting features like var with local variables, API enhancements, GC improvement, Thread Local handshake and many more. I have documented them here and I am really excited to use those in 2020.



Same goes with Spring framework and Spring Security, I didn’t know all the changes on Spring 4.0 and Spring Security 4.0, my project was still using Spring Security 3.1 and boom we now we have version 5.0 for both Spring and Spring security.



My learning speed has slowed down a little bit in last a couple of years and I haven’t managed to keep myself up-to-date with the latest and greatest like I am yet to get comfortable with Git, JavaScript frameworks like Angular and React, latest changes on unit and integration testing space and new version of popular framework e.g. Spring, Spring Security, and Spring Boot.



I managed to catch up many of those last years, hence, 2020 will be all about consolidation and keeping myself up-to-date with things which matters most on the technology side, improving my toolset chain and exploring the DevOps landscape

What Java Programmers should learn in 2020

Here is my list of things a Java developer should learn in 2020:

1. DevOps

This is one area where I am seeing a lot of traction last year as more and more companies are moving into DevOps and adopting continuous integration and deployment.



DevOps is very vast and you need to learn a lot of tools and principles and that’s what overwhelm many developers but you don’t need to worry. I have shared a DevOps RoadMap which you can follow to learn and master DevOps at your own speed.



This means if you are an experienced Java programmer with a passion for managing the environment, automation and improving overall structure, you can become a DevOps Engineer.



If you are looking for some awesome resources then Jenkins, From Zero to Hero: Become a DevOps Jenkins Master is a great course to start with, particularly for Java developers.

2. Git

Git and Github have been around some time and while I have used Git in past with Eclipse, but I am yet to become a master of Git on the command line.



Why I haven’t mastered Git so far? Simply because I didn’t need it yet. I have occasionally downloaded projects from Github and run from Eclipse but I am still not so great with Git commands, particularly reverting changes and handling errors.



Since now most of the companies are migrating their projects from SVN, CVS to Git, its high time to learn and master Git. I have recently purchased the Git Complete: The definitive, step-by-step guide to Git from Udemy on their last 10$ sale and this would be the first item to complete in 2020.

If you are in the same boat and want to learn or improve your Git skill in 2020, do check out that course from Udemy, it’s very handy.

3. Java 9–14

As I said, I am still learning Java 8 and many Java developers too. I will also spend some time learning new features of Java 9, Java 10, Java 11 in 2020 but for me, Java 8 is still a priority, until I moved to Java 11 which is another LTS release.



The JDK 9 brings a lot of goodies in terms of modules, Jigsaw, Reactive Streams, Process API, HTTP2 client, JShell, and API improvements like collection factory methods and I am really looking forward to learning them at the earliest opportunity.



Similarly, JDK 10 brings var to give you a flavor of dynamic typing and some GC improvement.



In the last Udemy 10$ sale, I have purchased a host of courses and one of them is The Complete Java MasterClass, which is updated for Java 11 and I am looking forward to starting my Java 11 journey with that.



Btw, if you have yet to start with JDK 8 then here is my list of favorite Java 8 tutorials and courses which you can free of cost: 10 best tutorial to learn Java 8.

If you need a list of courses to learn new features from Java 9 to Java 13 then you can take a look at this list of courses to learn new features from JDK 9 to JDK 13.

4. Spring Framework 5

I have been hearing about some new features like reactive programming model on Spring 5, adoption of recent Java features, some unit testing improvement, etc but I have yet to try that.



Anyway, I have already started learning Spring 5.0 by following Spring 5. 0: Beginner to Guru and will keep the momentum going in 2020. If you use Spring, probably it’s the best time to learn Spring 5.0.

If you like books, you can also check out this list of advanced Spring Books for Java developers from Manning and Packt_Pub

5. Unit testing

Another area which I want to improve in the coming year. There are a lot of new frameworks and tools available for Java programmers to unit test and integration test their application e.g. Mockito and PowerMock for mocking objects, Robot Framework, and Cucumber for automated integration test and of course the new and shining JUnit 5 library.



There is plenty of stuff to learn on this front. If you can invest some time upgrading your unit testing skill, not only your coding skill will improve but also you will become a more professional developer, which every company looks form. To start with, you can check out the JUnit and Mockito Crash Course from Udemy.

6. RESTful Web Service

One more thing I want to keep improving in 2020 is my knowledge about writing REST API and implementing secure and scalable RESTful Web Service in Java using Spring.



This is one skill which is highly desirable in the Java world and there are not many people who know both Java and REST well.

If you are also in the same boat and want to learn how to develop RESTful Web Service using Spring, The REST of Spring MasterClass from Eugen Paraschiv is a good starting point.

7. Spring Security 5.0

This is the third major upgrade on Spring Eco-System. The 5th version of the popular security framework has several bug fixes and a major OAuth 2 module, which you just can’t miss.



This is another priority Item for me in 2020 along with Spring 5.0 framework stuff.

Thankfully Eugen has updated his best selling course Learn with Spring Security to include 5.0 features and added a separate module for OAuth 2.0., probably the best material to learn Spring Security 5.0 at this moment.

8. Spring Boot 2

The Spring Boot framework also has a new release Spring Boot 2. If I get sometime after all these goals this year then I will spend some time learning Spring Boot 2.

If you also want to learn Spring Boot 2, you can check out this free Spring boot course from Udemy for a quick start.

If you need more choices then you can also check this list of top Spring boot courses for Java developers to learn in 2020.

9. Angular 2+ or React JS

These two JavaScript framework has completely changed how you develop web applications.

As a Java developer, I have used Servlet, JSP, and jQuery at the client side but haven’t yet tried my hand with Angular or React.



In 2020, one of my goals is to learn Angular and I will be starting my journey with Udemy’s Angular 9 - The Complete Guide. If you are in the same boat then you can also take a look at that course, it’s very handy.

10. Android

If you don’t know how to write Android Apps in 2020 then you are lacking something. Mobile is one of the best platforms to reach a large number of people and Android is probably the most popular platform to write mobile applications.



Even though I know Android basics, I have yet to publish any Android apps, maybe 2020 will change that. If you want to learn Android in 2020, you can check The Complete Android N Developer Course, one of the better course to learn Android.

If you need more choices then I have also shortlisted some Android online courses to refresh my knowledge and get to the next level. If you are also in the same boat then you may find them useful as well.

11. Apache Spark and Kafka

One more thing I want to keeping exploring in-depth in 2020 is the Big Data space, and particularly Apache Spark and Apache Kafka framework.

I am not sure if I will get time to look at other Big data technologies but its seriously good stuff and along with DevOps and Machine Learning, Big Data is probably the hottest technology at this moment.



If you also want to learn Big data in 2020, you can check The Ultimate Hands-On Hadoop — Tame your Big Data! course.

If you need more choices you can also check my list of shortlisted courses to learn Apache Spark for Java developers from Udemy and Pluralsight.

12. Docker and Kubernetes

You’ve probably heard the buzz around Docker and Kubernetes and the impact it has on DevOps teams. You may have at first thought, “ahh, yet another new technology I need to learn”, but I will say that Docker is not just another technology but its truly a game-changer.



Along with Kubernetes, It’s one of the most important tools that you can learn and will stay with you throughout your entire career.



Nowadays, Docker and Kubernetes are used by almost every development team, whether it’s a large enterprise or a small startup. It’s safe to say that if you’re entering the workforce now, you’ll most likely brush up against Docker at some point.



In short, whether you are a junior Java developer or an experienced veteran of several years of experience, Having Docker and Kubernetes knowledge is essential for your career progression and job change. If you have already realized the importance of Kubernetes and looking to learn Kubernetes in 2020 then Docker and Kubernetes: The Complete Guide by Stephen Grider on Udemy is an excellent course to start with.

If you prefer free resources, like free online courses, then you can also check out this list of free Docker and Kubernetes courses for Java developers to start your journey.

13. Microservices

Microservices are nothing but an extension of RESTful web services with the main objective being to break up your code into small, distributed, and independent services for better development, deployment, and management.

The Microservices architecture is ideal for the public cloud, with its focus on elastic scaling with on-demand resources. However, it does require thoughtful design and a significant amount of preparation.

Fortunately, Spring Boot and Spring Cloud simplify your microservice applications by providing common features and allowing you to focus on business logic by abstracting away details required for cloud-based development.

If you also want to learn Spring Boot 2 and Microservice in 2020 then you can also check out this Master Microservices with Spring Boot and Spring Cloud from Udemy for a quick start.

If you need more choices, then you can also check this list of top Spring boot courses for Java developers to learn in 2020.

14. Cloud (AWS)

Apart from containers, Cloud is another thing which I think every Software developer and Data Scientist should learn in 2020. Companies of all sizes and domains are now shifting their environments into Cloud for cost-saving and better scalability, which means sooner or later, you need to work with cloud-native applications.

Learning Cloud platforms like Amazon Web Service (AWS), Google Cloud Platform (GCP) or Microsoft Azure will take you one step ahead of your competitors not only in your current job but also in the next post. You don’t need to learn all of them, and in fact, learning one means you will have a fair idea about others.

To start with, I suggest you learn AWS as it is the most popular and most mature cloud platform and there is a strong demand of developers and system admins with AWS knowledge if you need a resource then I recommend the AWS Certified Solutions Architect — Associate 2020 course by Ryan Kroonenburg the Cloud Guru. It will not only help you learn AWS in-depth but also prepare you for AWS certification.

If you need free courses to learn AWS online, you can also check this list of best free AWS courses for beginners to start with.

15. Concurrency

Concurrency is one of the skills which separates an average developer from a good programmer. You should not only have an in-depth understanding of fundamental concepts like Thread , Runnable , Object locking, and Synchronization, but you should also be familiar with concepts like deadlock, livelock, race conditions, and how to deal with them.

You should also learn about advanced Java concepts like synchronizers added on Java 5 and subsequent version, I mean CyclicBarrier , CountDownLatch , Phaser , and CompleteableFuture , etc., along with Futures and how to perform the async operation in Java.



I know, it’s a lot of stuff, and that’s why I suggest you join an in-depth course like Java Concurrency in Practice bundle from Heinz Kabutz, a Java Champion, and authority when it comes to concurrency and design patterns. This course is a bit expensive, but you will learn a lot more concepts in-depth, which makes it completely worth your time and money.

On the other hand, if the price is an issue, you can also check this Udemy course to Efficient Java Multithreading with Executors, which won’t cost you more than $10 if you get it on Udemy flash sales which happens every month. This is also an excellent course to learn Java concurrency and multithreading in Java.

That’s all about what to learn in 2020. As I have said, Technology changes with rapid speed and the biggest challenge for programmers are to keep themselves up-to-date.

Apart from this list, there is plenty of other stuff that you can look-up in the new year like learning a new programming language like Kotlin but for me, I will be more than happy if I can achieve these goals in 2020.



Other Programming Resources and Articles You may like

The 2020 Java Developer RoadMap

10 Books Every Programmer Must Read

10 Tips to Improve Your Programming skill

10 Object-Oriented Design Principle Every Programmer should know

10 Articles Every Programmer Should Read

10 Tools Every Software Developer Should Know

10 Data Structure and Algorithms Courses for Programmers

5 Java and Web Development Frameworks Programmers Should Learn

10 Unit testing and Integration testing tools for Java devs

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I wish you guys a very Happy New Year 2020.

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