Define your professional goals and choose a language. This is the most important advice for newcomers wishing to join the programming community. But how to do it if you do not know which language is best suited to your goals?
Wouldn't it be easier if there were a single "market leader" among development languages? Then beginners wouldn't be at a loss for ideas and would feel free to start learning a given language, confident in its relevance. Of course, this is something out of the realm of fiction. Languages are "tools" for solving all kinds of problems. And yet among them there is one, the perfect choice. It's called Java.
Java is a well structured, object oriented language which is quite easy for beginners. You can learn the language quite quickly because there are a lot of processes that run automatically. You don't have to dive too much into how things work. Java is a cross-platform language. With it, a programmer can create applications that are easily deployable on any device. Java is a clear favorite of the Internet of Things and an ideal choice for creating enterprise applications.
For beginners, there's another major plus - Java has the world's largest community and top-notch documentation. If you run into a problem, you'll likely be able to quickly find a ready-made solution for it. A few other pluses: extensive collections and frameworks that are suitable for almost all Junior Developer tasks.
Finally, Java is a language with a decent past and a promising future. The last two versions, updated with new functionality, were released six months apart. This periodicity keeps Java at the forefront of the IT industry.
When we talk about a programming language with a low learning curve, we can't help but mention the pitfalls. How long will it take to learn? What sources are trustworthy? What mistakes should be avoided? Let's deal with all of this from personal experience.
Avoid standard problems
So, you are new to programming. Congratulations: you have access to the experience of other programmers, which will allow you to avoid the standard mistakes in self-training. Here are the most common pitfalls:
Learning a language without a specific goal
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Our goal is to win.
To understand the scope and level of knowledge in the language, answer one simple question: why do you need programming?
If you are serious about program development and see yourself as a Java developer, then spend at least 4-5 hours a day for learning. If you just want to expand your knowledge, then choose a more "relaxed" pace. In any case, try not to stretch the learning process in time, because technology does not stand still. While you're learning specific frameworks or development tools, they can become obsolete.
Reading "everything useful" that comes across is not a valid learning strategy. There's nothing wrong with making adjustments to the overall plan. However, if you deviate greatly from the learning schedule, you will inevitably face demotivation.
Learning everything at once.
This is the next mistake that leads to "endless" learning. Don't try to cram too many technologies and tools into your training plan - this is the first step to burnout. A person needs a certain amount of time to assimilate information and learn how things work in practice.