What does it take to become a Java expert? [closed]

Question

I was just reading this thread and wondered if it's easier to become a Java expert than a C++ one? Is it because it's very easy to write wrong code in C++ while in Java you have less flexibility (memory management for example) which prevents you from writing code horrors? Or is it because C++ is just inherently harder to learn and master? Have you came across a study that distinguishes and characterizes C++ vs Java vs C# etc coders?

Answer 1

With few exceptions, anytime I hear someone say they are an "expert" at a language I generally take them with a grain of salt. No matter what language, the best programmers know that they always have something to learn - whether from a seasoned veteran or from a kid right out of college.

Answer 2

What does it take? Like anything, years of practice and countless mistakes.

And even then, your expertise will be in a handful of areas where you solved particular problem domains again and again; i.e., islands of expertise. Middleware and/or frameworks? Threading & concurrency? Maybe Swing/GUI Java applications? Or web applications...

Java has grown to such an extent that nobody can be an expert in ALL that is Java--look at how many packages have been added between 1.4 to 1.6 and this should be obvious. Though you have guys that come awfully close (Johsua Bloch comes to mind...).

Edit: If this is in regards to recruiters and HR...shrug off all of the buzzwords, minimum years, and "expert in" and just get a phone interview with the team looking to hire. You need to find out from the technical guy what exactly he's looking for because nearly all recruiters and recruitment agencies are COMPLETELY CLUELESS.

Answer 3

One thing to consider is the amount of open source code there is available to study and learn from.

There is also quite a bit of open source C++ code, but usually Java is more succinct and focused, not having to deal with platform differences and various different libraries.

I feel Java is much easier to learn because that is how I recommend improving and learning. Read code. Read the JDK, read the source of well known and respected libraries and frameworks. Dig in and see how it functions.