Advanced Java development: What are the key technical points of Java programming?

Java is sometimes referred to as an ancient language, but it is still in heavy use, and thanks to OpenJDK and innovation, new versions are released at an astonishing rate.

For example, JDK15 is available now (launched on September 15, 2020), but some companies are still dealing with Java8. As you can see in a few years, the java foundation has developed a lot of JDKs, so keep up with the times and prepare for a one-year release!

Here are the key skills you need to master to use the Java language:

Naming: Learn how to properly name identifiers.

Exception management: how to handle exceptions, how to design functional exceptions, and report errors. Read: How to best handle java exceptions.

Overall Approach: Remove your methods and make them more testable.

Bad OOP Practices: Learn what code metrics are, coupling, and how to reduce code dependencies to make it easier to test.

Less attention to readable code: Read best practices on comments, readability, solid principles, and complexity.

The code cannot be tested (probably not): Do not use the basic features of JUnit4. Learn JUnit5 and mocking libraries and testing terminology (stubs, fakes, dummies).

Memory Leaks: Know how to describe memory leak situations, common pitfalls and how to fix them.

Bad Null Expression Management: Don't fall into the NullPointerException trap thanks to the latest API, annotations, and some best practices.

Don't close resources: Use try resources to close resources in one go, and learn how to create custom components with auto-close behavior.

Another great piece of advice is to learn how to use static analyzers in a local IDE or CI/CD like Embold. Embold will pinpoint critical bugs in your code, such as memory leaks, and provide best-practice solutions for them.

If you can recognize yourself and the stage you are in, think and recharge in a targeted manner, insist on doing the right thing, and put in more effort than others, you will be better than others and have more opportunities. This is what we often call the Matthew effect: the harder you work, the luckier you get.