How to get started with Java in 2025: 5 tips to accelerate your programming

Learn Java the right way with smart coding, fast deployment, and scalable enterprise apps.

In its 30th year, Java has shown remarkable resilience and adaptability, making it a great choice to add to your programming arsenal. From powering enterprise applications to cloud-native microservices, Java’s versatility continues to make it relevant in today’s tech landscape. If you’re looking to start your Java journey in 2025, with a focus on enterprise development, here are five practical tips to help you learn efficiently.

1. Focus on modern Java features 

While understanding core concepts is essential, prioritize learning modern Java features that will make your code cleaner and more efficient. Java has evolved significantly since its early days, gradually adding powerful features that address common enterprise development challenges.

Lambda expressions and streams, introduced in Java 8, transformed how developers work with collections and data processing. These features enable more concise, functional-style programming that’s easier to read and maintain. For example, processing complex data from enterprise applications becomes significantly more straightforward with these tools.

Records, added in Java 14, solve the longstanding issue of verbose data classes. With records, you can define immutable data carriers with minimal boilerplate, automatically generating constructors, accessors, equals, hashCode, and toString methods based on your field definitions–perfect for data transfer objects in enterprise applications.

The module system (Project Jigsaw) provides a structured way to organize large applications, improving encapsulation and dependency management. Clearly stating which modules your code needs and which parts it exposes establishes distinct boundaries between components. This improves the maintainability of large enterprise codebases.

Text blocks and pattern matching round out the modern features worth focusing on early. Text blocks simplify working with multi-line strings like XML configurations or SQL queries, while pattern matching streamlines conditional logic, making switch statements more powerful and readable in complex business logic scenarios.

Read more: 5 things to consider when choosing a Java application server

2. Choose the right development tools 

The right tools can significantly enhance your learning experience by automating repetitive tasks and providing immediate feedback on your code.

IntelliJ IDEA stands out as a particularly powerful IDE for Java EE/Jakarta EE development (no offense to Eclipse and NetBeans users). Its intelligent code completion understands context and suggests relevant options, while its inspection system catches potential issues before you run your code. The Ultimate Edition offers excellent support for Jakarta EE, including deployment to application servers like Payara, CDI integration, and specialized tools for working with JPA.

Build tools like Maven and Gradle do much more than compile your code. They manage dependencies, ensuring you have the right versions of Jakarta EE APIs and implementations. They also standardize project structures (Maven especially) and automate tasks like running tests, generating documentation, and creating deployment packages. Learning these tools early helps you adopt professional enterprise workflows from the start.

Containerization tools like Docker and container orchestration platforms like Kubernetes have become essential in modern enterprise development. Understanding how to package Jakarta EE applications into containers and deploy them to orchestrated environments will be valuable skills in 2025’s cloud-native landscape.

3. Build real projects early 

Theory only takes you so far in programming. To truly internalize concepts and develop problem-solving skills, you need to build actual projects that solve real enterprise problems.

Start with something straightforward like a RESTful service that implements a simple business function using Jakarta REST (formerly JAX-RS) deployed to a runtime like Payara Server Community. This lets you practice core concepts while learning the Jakarta EE programming model. As you gain confidence, move to more complex applications like a complete inventory management system or an employee portal with Jakarta Faces.

Projects force you to integrate multiple Jakarta EE technologies and make decisions about architecture and design. They also expose you to the challenges of deploying to application servers, managing transactions, and implementing security using Jakarta Security. Each completed project adds to your portfolio and demonstrates your growing capabilities to potential employers or collaborators. In effect, projects reinforce your knowledge of Java through solving realistic problems.

Consider exploring MicroProfile alongside Jakarta EE for building microservices. Understanding how these complementary specifications work together will give you flexibility in designing enterprise applications of various scales, the real forte of Java.

4. Learn Jakarta EE thoroughly 

Jakarta EE (formerly Java EE) continues to be the premier standard for enterprise Java development, offering a comprehensive set of specifications for building scalable, secure, and maintainable applications.

Begin with Jakarta CDI (Contexts and Dependency Injection), as it forms the foundation of the programming model. Understanding how to use CDI for dependency injection, events, interceptors, and decorators will give you powerful tools for structuring your applications.

Jakarta Persistence (JPA) is essential for database interactions in enterprise applications. Learning how to map your domain objects to database tables, perform queries, and manage transactions will save you from writing tedious Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) code. 

Jakarta EE’s web technologies, including Jakarta Faces, and Jakarta REST, provide different approaches to building web interfaces and APIs. Understanding when to use each approach is key to designing effective enterprise applications.

Security is critical in enterprise development, so familiarize yourself with Jakarta Security for authentication, authorization, and secure communications. Similarly, Jakarta Transactions ensures data integrity in your applications.

Rather than superficially learning many frameworks, invest time in understanding Jakarta EE deeply. The knowledge you gain will transfer well to other enterprise frameworks and prepare you for professional Java development roles. Nearly every major framework in the Java ecosystem has its roots in Jakarta EE. A solid grounding in Jakarta EE will set you up for a smooth ride with any other framework.

5. Contribute to open source projects 

Engaging with open source Java projects, particularly those in the Jakarta EE ecosystem, is one of the most effective ways to accelerate your learning while making meaningful contributions to the community. 

Open source participation exposes you to large, real-world codebases maintained by experienced developers. Consider contributing to Jakarta EE implementations like Payara Community or application frameworks built on Jakarta EE. Reading and understanding such code teaches you practices and patterns that aren’t covered in tutorials or books. 

Start with beginner-friendly projects that explicitly welcome new contributors. The Eclipse Foundation, which stewards Jakarta EE, has many projects with issues labeled for newcomers. These are typically small, self-contained tasks that maintainers have identified as appropriate entry points. Even simple documentation improvements or test additions can be valuable contributions.

As you gain confidence, gradually take on more complex issues. Bug fixes are often a good next step, as they require you to understand existing code and match its style while solving a specific problem. Eventually, you might implement new features or contribute to Jakarta EE specification discussions.

The feedback cycle in open source is incredibly valuable. Your pull requests will be reviewed by experienced enterprise Java developers who can point out improvements or alternative approaches. This personalized feedback helps identify gaps in your knowledge and accelerates your growth as a developer.

Final thoughts 

Java’s three-decade journey is a testament to its enduring value in the programming world, especially in enterprise environments. It is (arguably) the most sane, practical, and balanced of all the major, popular programming languages. To harness Java’s power for building enterprise applications, focus on modern features, use professional tools, build real projects, master Jakarta EE, and contribute to open source projects. 

Consistency is key in learning programming—even short, regular practice sessions will yield significant progress over time. Start small, build on your successes, and connect with the Jakarta EE community through forums, user groups, and conferences to accelerate your learning journey.

In a field that changes as rapidly as software development, Java and Jakarta EE’s continued relevance speaks volumes. Their evolution hasn’t just kept pace with industry trends; They have often helped shape them. As you embark on your Java enterprise journey in 2025, you’re joining a vibrant ecosystem with abundant resources, opportunities, and supportive community members ready to help you succeed. 

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