Thread: Next step in Java

Hello all,

I'm a few chapters away from finishing the book I'm using to learn Java programming. And I am not sure where to go once I've read the last page. I've looked for somethings online, found some free books, some tutorials(video and text); about the same things in my book. I'd like to improve, test, and build what I know; but I don't know how or where to start. Keeping it short, I've quite confused with what's next?

-Mel

There is no definitive "this is the next step". Different people are going to have different opinions.

But the best way to learn how to program is by programming. Start a collection of little programs that do interesting things to you. Build on those programs, and you'll pick new knowledge up as you hit roadblocks and google the problem and ask questions here. You don't learn how to program just by reading books, any more than you can learn how to play a sport by reading books about baseball.

Originally Posted by Melawe

Okay I'll try that. Do you know any websites with source code I can learn from?

That really depends on what you're looking for. There are plenty of open source projects, but many of those are a bit overwhelming.

I've tried to throw together some smaller open-source example programs, and you can check them out at code.KevinWorkman.com, if you feel like it. They might not be in the field you're interested in though.

The best way to go from here might be to start from scratch instead of trying to work from existing code.

To add to Kevin's advice, depending upon how far advanced your book has taken you, a few avenues you might wish to explore that are relatively language independent:
1) Algorithms. Sorting algorithms seem like the typical examples used, and a good place to start learning recursion.
2) Data structures. LinkedList, trees, graphs, and algorithms to traverse the structures
3) Design Patterns. Software design principles that in my view are extremely important to have knowledge of.

Nothing can beat a real world experience , build something which can be used by some one else and if not than at least build which you can use. Real world application brings lot of small points and learning experience. you can build a question answer application something like Whizlabls mock exams etc if you are interested in Swing, of do the same in JSP , spring if you want to go on web site.

Hey!

I'm grumpy. You can be one of the other Dwarfs.