Intermediate and Advanced Java Training

This is a modern, fast-paced course suitable for developers with some previous experience in working with Java and Object-Oriented (OO) programming. The course can also be delivered to developers experienced in other OO languages (Python, C++, C#) but with limited Java exposure, as well as used as an advanced Java course for more experienced developers. There are numerous optional parts allowing you to tailor the coverage to your group. 

It includes an accelerated, yet thorough, hands-on review of Java foundational concepts, with attention given to OO design and implementation principles. This review also includes an overview of newer language features such as the Date/Time API (Java 8+), type inference with var, and switch expressions. 

It then moves on to comprehensive coverage of more advanced topics in Java and OO development to provide participants with a strong grounding to use Java in a sophisticated and productive manner. This includes in-depth coverage of functional programming with lambdas and streams, as well as the Java Platform Module System (JPMS). Java modules presents a fundamental shift in how applications are organized, and interconnected to the libraries they use. Migration strategies are also covered, including a step-by-step case study. 

This course covers far more than an introductory course, including important topics such as UML and Design Patterns, and using composition vs. inheritance, which are all key to creating well-structured OO systems. After these important areas, it moves on to the advanced Java topics described above. It teaches a number of useful techniques that enhance productivity and good system design - which may otherwise take Java developers years to absorb on their own. 

Unit testing is stressed throughout the course, with most labs implemented as JUnit tests. 

The course is very hands-on, including numerous code examples and programming labs that reinforce the concepts presented, so that attendees can immediately employ what they’ve learned in their current projects. 

It is designed to be flexible and can be customized to fit your needs. Be prepared to work hard and learn a great deal! 

Benefits 

• Solidify Java foundational knowledge, including the important contracts of class Object.

• Understand the uses and consequences of inheritance and composition, and reinforce the role of interfaces.

• Reinforce fundamental OO principles such as cohesion, coupling, and polymorphism.

• Use the JUnit testing framework and become fluent in writing assertions to verify correct program behavior.

• Familiarity with UML modeling in class diagrams and sequence diagrams.

• Use advanced techniques for object creation, including factories and singletons.

• Use established design patterns for object composition, including Strategy, Decorator, and Facade.

• Write and use generic classes and methods.

• Learn the use cases for inner classes and refactor existing code to use them when appropriate.

• Create and use custom annotations.

• Be familiar with reflection and how to use it.

• Understand the role of functional interfaces.

• Understand lambda expressions and method references, and use them to pass behavior (methods).

• Use the Stream API to perform complex processing of collections and other input sources.

• Create and use Java modules, understanding module descriptors, modular JARs, exports and dependencies, and the module path.

• Understand the structure and behavior of the modular JDK, and how it supports modular applications as well as legacy class path-based code.

• Migrate class path-based applications to Java 11, understanding the stages of migration and options available.

Required Prerequisites 

Working knowledge of Java programming, including use of inheritance, interfaces, and exceptions. May be used for audiences with exposure to other OO languages (e,g, Python, C++, C#) but with limited Java exposure. Additional training time may be required, or coverage of advanced topics reduced. 

Course Outline

Preface: Java State of the Union 

• Java Release Cycle 

• New Java Versions 

Session 1: Review - Basics 

• Java Environment 

• Classes and Objects 

  • Instance Variables, Methods, Constructors, Static Members 

  • OO Principles: Data Encapsulation, Cohesion 

  • Object Contracts: toString(), equals() and hashCode(), Comparable and Comparator 

• Packages, Enums, Arrays 

• Exceptions 

• Date and Time API 

• New Language Features 

Session 2: Review (Inheritance and Interfaces) 

• UML Overview 

• Inheritance 

  • Definition and IS-A Relationship 

  • Method Overriding, @Override 

  • OO Principles: Principle of Substitutability, Polymorphism and Encapsulation of Type, Coupling, Open-Closed Principle 

  • Constructor Chaining 

• Interfaces 

  • Defining and Implementing, Interface Types 

  • Interface Inheritance 

• New Interface Features (Java 8+) 

  • Default Methods, Static Methods 

  • Functional Interfaces 

• Guidelines 

Session 3: JUnit 

• Overview 

  • Tests, Assertions, and Fixtures 

  • Writing and Running Tests 

  • Assertions 

  • Test Fixtures, @Before and @After, @BeforeClass and @AfterClass 

  • Testing for Exceptions 

• Best Practices and Test-Driven Development Overview (TDD) 

Session 4: Collections and Generics 

• Collections Overview 

  • Generics and Type-Safe Collections 

  • Diamond Operator 

• Lists, Sets, and Maps 

  • Interfaces and Contracts 

  • Iteration and Autoboxing 

  • Utility Classes - Collections and Arrays 

• Writing Generic Classes 

  • Inheritance with Generic Types 

  • Wildcard Parameter Types 

  • Type Erasure 

Session 5: Techniques of Object Creation 

• Design Patterns Overview 

• Controlling Object Creation 

  • Limitations of new Operator, Alternative Techniques 

• Singleton Pattern 

• Simple Factory 

• Factory Method Pattern 

• Other Techniques 

Session 6: Using Composition and Inheritance Effectively 

• Inheritance and Composition - Pros and Cons 

  • Composition and Delegation 

  • HAS-A, USES Relationships 

• Strategy Pattern 

• Decorator Pattern 

• D. Façade and Other Patterns 

• Façade, Proxy, Template Method

Session 7: Inner Classes 

• Overview and Motivation 

  • Stronger Encapsulation, Rules and Caveats 

• Defining and Using Inner Classes 

  • Member-Level, Method-Local, Anonymous Classes 

• Static Nested Classes 

  • Nested Classes, Nested Interfaces, Nested Enums 

Session 8: Annotations 

• Overview 

• Using Annotations 

  • Target and Retention Policy 

  • Annotation Parameters, Parameter Shortcuts 

• Writing Custom Annotations 

  • Syntax, Using the Meta-Annotations 

  • Using a Custom Annotation 

Session 9: Reflection 

• Overview and API 

  • The Class Called Class 

  • Obtaining and Inspecting Class Objects 

• Working with Objects Reflectively 

• Creating Instances, Invoking Methods, Setting Field Values 

Session 10: Lambda Expressions 

• Functional Interfaces and Lambdas 

• Target Context 

• Using Lambda Expressions 

  • Syntax, Lambda Compatibility 

  • Variable Capture 

  • Type Inference 

• Method References 

  • Three Types of Method References 

  • Refactoring Lambdas into Method References 

Session 11: Streams 

• Overview 

  • Streams vs. Collections 

  • Anatomy of a Stream 

• Understanding the Stream API 

  • Intermediate Operations and Stream Pipeline 

  • Java 8 Functional Interfaces: Predicate, Comparator, Function 

• Stream Processing 

  • Filtering, Sorting, Mapping 

  • Terminal Operations 

• Collectors 

  • Concepts 

  • Partitioning and Grouping 

Session 12: Introduction to Modules 

• Motivation and Overview 

• Types of Modules 

• Modular JDK 

• Our Approach 

Session 13: Working with Modules 

• Defining and Using Modules 

• Services 

• Compatibility and Migration 

• Conclusion