Java Skills

What is Java?

Java is a high-level, object-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems (now owned by Oracle Corporation). Those with Java skills like it because It is designed to be platform-independent. This means Java programs can run on any device or operating system that has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed.

Java is known for its simplicity, readability, and robustness, making it ideal for building large-scale, mission-critical applications. It features automatic memory management (garbage collection), strong type checking, and a rich ecosystem of libraries and frameworks.

What to use Java for

Here are some key applications of Java:

• Enterprise Applications: Java is widely used for building enterprise-grade applications, including customer relationship management (CRM) systems, enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, and supply chain management (SCM) solutions. With its scalability, reliability, and portability, Java enables developers to build robust and maintainable applications that meet the needs of modern businesses.
• Mobile Development: Java is a popular choice for developing Android applications, thanks to the Android SDK (Software Development Kit) provided by Google. With Java, developers can write platform-independent code that runs on millions of Android devices worldwide, leveraging the rich set of APIs and libraries available in the Android ecosystem.
• Web Development: Java is used for building dynamic and interactive web applications using frameworks like Spring Boot, JavaServer Faces (JSF), and Apache Struts. With Java, developers can create server-side applications that handle complex business logic, database interactions, and user authentication, delivering a seamless user experience across web browsers.
• Big Data and Analytics: Java is used in the field of big data and analytics for processing and analyzing large volumes of data. With frameworks like Apache Hadoop and Apache Spark, Java developers can build distributed data processing applications that scale horizontally across clusters of commodity hardware, enabling organizations to extract valuable insights from their data.
• Scientific Computing: Java is used for scientific computing tasks, including numerical analysis, data visualization, and simulation. With libraries like Apache Commons Math and Weka, Java developers can implement complex mathematical algorithms and models, analyze experimental data, and simulate real-world phenomena in domains like physics, chemistry, and biology.

Companies of all sizes use Hired to find engineers with Java skills

What is a Java developer?

Here’s what it means to be a Java developer:

• Proficiency in Java: A Java developer is fluent in writing Java code, including understanding Java’s object-oriented programming (OOP) features, syntax, and APIs. They are familiar with Java’s standard library and ecosystem of libraries and frameworks, and know how to leverage them effectively in their projects.
• Object-Oriented Programming Skills: Java developers have expertise in object-oriented programming concepts and techniques, including classes, objects, inheritance, polymorphism, and encapsulation. They understand how to design and implement object-oriented solutions that are modular, reusable, and maintainable.
• Web Development Skills: Java developers have skills in web development using frameworks like Spring Boot, JavaServer Faces (JSF), and Apache Struts. They understand web technologies like HTTP, HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, and know how to build server-side applications that generate dynamic web content and interact with web browsers.
• Database and Persistence Skills: Java developers have skills in database programming and persistence using technologies like JDBC (Java Database Connectivity) and JPA (Java Persistence API). They understand relational database concepts like tables, columns, and indexes, and know how to write SQL queries and perform database operations in Java applications.
• Testing and Debugging Skills: Java developers have skills in software testing and debugging using tools like JUnit, Mockito, and Eclipse IDE. They know how to write unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests for Java applications, and how to use debugging tools to diagnose and fix software defects.

Most important Java developer skills in 2024

As we look ahead to 2024, the demand for Java developers continues to grow, and new skills and capabilities are required to stay ahead of the curve. Here are some of the most important skills for Java developers in 2024:

• Modern Java Features: Java developers need to have a deep understanding of modern Java features introduced in recent versions of the language, including Java 8, Java 11, and beyond. They should be familiar with features like lambdas, streams, optional, var, and modules, and know how to use them effectively to write clean, concise, and maintainable code.
• Microservices Architecture: Java developers should have skills in designing and building microservices architectures using frameworks like Spring Boot and Micronaut. They should understand microservices patterns like service discovery, load balancing, circuit breaking, and distributed tracing, and know how to implement them in Java applications.
• Cloud-Native Development: Java developers need skills in cloud-native development using technologies like Kubernetes, Docker, and Istio. They should understand containerization concepts, microservices deployment patterns, and cloud-native architectures, and know how to deploy and manage Java applications in cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform (GCP).
• DevOps and Continuous Delivery: Java developers should have skills in DevOps practices and tools for automating software development, testing, and deployment processes. They should be familiar with tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI/CD, and Kubernetes Operators, and know how to set up CI/CD pipelines for building, testing, and deploying Java applications in production environments.
• Security and Compliance: Java developers need skills in building secure and compliant applications that meet industry standards and regulations. They should understand security concepts like authentication, authorization, encryption, and secure coding practices, and know how to implement them in Java applications to protect against security threats and vulnerabilities.

Why should you hire Java developers?

Hiring Java developers can bring numerous benefits to your organization:

• Scalability and Performance: Java developers bring expertise in building scalable and performant applications that can handle high traffic and concurrent requests with ease. They can optimize Java applications for performance, scalability, and reliability, ensuring that they can scale horizontally to meet growing demand and deliver responsive user experiences.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Java developers can write platform-independent code that runs on any device or operating system that has a Java Virtual Machine (JVM) installed. They can build applications that are compatible with a wide range of devices and environments, including desktops, laptops, servers, mobile devices, and embedded systems.
• Rich Ecosystem: Java developers can leverage the rich ecosystem of libraries, frameworks, and tools available in the Java ecosystem to accelerate development and reduce time-to-market. They can choose from a wide range of open-source and commercial solutions for building web applications, mobile apps, enterprise systems, and more, and integrate them seamlessly into their projects.
• Robustness and Reliability: Java developers are trained to write robust and reliable code that meets high-quality standards and best practices. They follow industry-standard coding conventions, write comprehensive unit tests, and use static analysis tools to ensure code quality and maintainability, reducing the risk of software defects and production failures.

Assess tech candidates for Java skills

Looking for candidates skilled in Java? Technical assessments are a multi-pronged solution. They allow you to streamline the hiring process and reduce bias with tech skill-focused benchmarks. 

Hired Assessments offers a library of hundreds of questions and customizable coding challenge campaigns tailored to technical preferences. Centralize and standardize your evaluation process as you surface top talent with specific, hard-to-find skills.

See how Mastercard and Axon used Hired Assessments to vet top candidates.

Java resources

Check out our resources to continue sharpening your Java skills.

Hired profiles help developers showcase their top tech skills

After passing Hired skills assessments, candidates have the chance to showcase their skills to employers. They can opt to present an ‘Assessments’ badge on their profile. Candidates may take various assessments including Programming Skills, Full Stack, Backend, Frontend, iOS, Android, Debugging, Dev Ops Generalist, and Dev Ops AWS.