Hey everyone! I've been learning Java for about a year and just wrapped up my first year in computer science. I've got a good grasp of the basics and object-oriented programming, but I don't feel super confident yet. I'm eager to work on projects to improve my understanding. I've heard a lot about Java Swing for GUIs, but someone told me it might not be that useful right now. Since I prefer backend development, should I focus on learning HTML, CSS, and JavaScript instead? I'm also curious about starting with Spring Boot. Is that a good choice, or should I tackle something else first? Any guidance or project ideas would be greatly appreciated!
6 Answers
Just a heads up—Spring Boot is widely recognized in the industry and could be a fantastic skill to have, so definitely consider diving into that!
How about creating a quiz application? You can have categories like History, Geography, and Economics where users pick a category, answer questions under a time limit, and then see their scores. It’s a fun project that will really help you practice! Using Java Swing or JavaFX can make it visually appealing too. Check back in a month after you give it a shot!
Consider building a full-stack web app that finds the nearest places like restaurants or ATMs based on the user's location! You’ll use Java for the backend (Spring Boot is a solid choice) and can pick any frontend tech you like. It's a great way to implement a RESTful API and get hands-on experience with real-time data.
If you’re into games, look up Rysnow on YouTube! He has great tutorials for making simple 2D games in Java, which can be a fun way to learn.
Start by tackling your class assignments, but try to go beyond the basic requirements! It’s a great way to deepen your understanding while working on practical problems.
Have you considered using JavaFX? It’s a modern alternative to Swing that you might find more useful for some projects.
That’s helpful! Though we mostly get small assignments that are like longer leetcode problems, so I’m not sure how much I can extend them.