The following job description will show: Java developers are the cool architects of the digital age, turning bits and bytes into living software. Yes, you heard right! They are the magicians working in the background of the digital world, developing systems and applications that make our daily lives easier. Because with programming languages like Java, you don't just develop software, you can tailor it to the specific needs and requirements of the user. But what exactly do they do all day? Let's take a look behind the scenes and their job description in more detail:

Java: Must-have for coders

Especially when starting a career as a programmer, it is important to know which programming languages are popular and leading on the market. Good news: Java is still one of the most widespread and popular programming languages in the world. Java was ranked among the top 4 in the TIOBE index in 2023, far ahead of the rest of the world. Java also ranks 6th among users themselves, and there are good reasons for this. Java has been on the market since 1995. A real eternity in the fast-paced IT world. Yet the programming language is considered a fascinating phenomenon in the software industry. Both the language and the platform itself have been able to adapt time and again to the sometimes radical changes in the tech landscape - and maintain their supremacy in the process. Because Java is a versatile language with a huge, global community. A nice plus for IT newbies: Java is beginner-friendly. For many years, Java has therefore been considered a must-have programming language.

What are the tasks in the job description of Java developers?

Java developers design, write and implement programs such as web applications and applications. Due to the flexibility and universal applicability of this technology, this profession is flexible in terms of both time and space. The possible applications are extremely diverse. But no matter where developers work, the tasks are always interesting, exciting and challenging. Java professionals are involved in the entire lifecycle of software. The process usually starts with conceptual discussions in-house or with customers. This is followed by the implementation and testing phase. These structured tests are an essential part of the work. The goal is to deliver a bug-free, user-friendly program. This requires a detective's instinct, a lot of patience and a meticulous work ethic. Last but not least, Java developers are also responsible for maintenance.

The job description in a nutshell: Java developers solve complex problems. This includes a wide range of tasks and responsibilities related to software development using Java as a programming language.

Important aspects of the job description include:

• Software development: creating desktop applications, web applications, mobile applications, or even server-side applications

• Programming: writing Java code and algorithms, working with data structures and implementing business logic

• Software architecture: breaking down the application into components and ensuring the software is scalable and maintainable

• Troubleshooting and debugging: Identifying and fixing errors in the code using efficient debugging techniques

• Frameworks and libraries: leveraging Java frameworks and libraries to accelerate development and implement best practices (e.g., Spring)

• Database integration: integrating databases into applications (e.g., MongoDB)

• Security: protecting the application from vulnerabilities and attacks through security best practices

• Performance optimization: Optimization of the application in efficiency and speed

• Documentation: Comprehensive documentation for the developed code so that other developers can understand and maintain the code

• Versioning and code management: Manage version control systems such as Git to efficiently manage and share code

• Teamwork: Collaborate with colleagues from development, design, project management, and other disciplines to deliver software projects together

No two jobs are the same and again, tasks and requirements can vary depending on the company, industry or project. However, it is always a good idea to keep up to date in order to be successful in the job and continue to grow.

What skills are required?

The profession of Java developers is versatile and extensive. The skills that entry-level IT professionals should bring with them should be correspondingly wide-ranging. In addition to the technical requirements, soft skills are particularly helpful in the job. Since developers are always working in different group constellations, they need to be able to work well in a team, have good knowledge about people and strong communication skills. As with all projects, Java developers are often under time pressure. A strong ability to work under pressure and an inner balance in stressful phases are therefore important.

Skills of Java developers:

• Clean Coding

• Ability to work in a team

• Strategic and analytical thinking

• Solid time and project management

• Communication skills

• Problem solving oriented

"The Java Development Bootcamp by neue fische prepared me perfectly for my everyday job. The way of planning and developing features and dealing with difficulties taught in the bootcamp is exactly what I need in my job on a daily basis." Kai, graduate of our Java Development Bootcamp

What does a Java developer earn?

One thing is for sure: Java developers are in demand, and this is also reflected in their salary. The good news is that most of them earn an above-average income. The reason? The demand for Java experts is high, as the Java programming language is widely used in many industries.
As in all professions, there are certain criteria that influence salary - experience, location, industry and specialization each play an important role. The more in demand a specialization is, the higher the respective earnings prospects. Career starters usually start with around €44,000 per year. The average is around €50,000, which can be achieved after a few years of professional experience. Specializations and management activities add another €10,000 to the purse strings. However, the current shortage on the labor market has led to a steady rise in incomes. In some cases, top incomes of over €70,000 are already negotiable today.

Java for Future?

The many advantages of Java, such as its versatility, its beginner-friendliness or the fact that Java is multithreaded, make this programming language so popular worldwide. This means that the chances are more than good that the IT world will continue to be enriched by Java in the coming years. Experts see the strong community in particular as a major plus for the future. Since this is quite ready to fight for its goals, as the development around EE4J has shown. There is much to suggest that Java will continue to adapt to the latest tech trends and thus remain the perfect entry-level language for all IT newbies. Java developers need not worry about a secure and lucrative future, because the future speaks Java.

The job description got you hooked and you are ready to experience the magic for yourself and help develop the latest apps and applications of tomorrow as a Java developer? Then sign up now for our next Java Development Bootcamp and code yourself into the tech world! 🚀 We're looking forward meeting you in the bootcamp!

P.S.: Why is Java actually called Java? For all of you who want to shine with nerd know-how, we're not pouring pure wine now, but coffee. Coffee? Yes, that's right. The name comes from the coffee brand Peet`s Coffee Java. One of the founders, Chris Warth, supposedly drank it at a meeting. That gave him the idea to name the programming language that way.