A Step-by-Step Learning Path With Timeline For - Java

Java is one of the most popular programming languages in the world, widely used in software development, enterprise applications, Android development, and more. Its simplicity, portability, and strong community support make it an excellent choice for learners. Below is a structured roadmap with a suggested timeline to help you master Java step by step.

Basics of Java (Weeks 1–3)

Install & Setup: Install JDK, IDE (IntelliJ IDEA / Eclipse / VS Code).

Java Syntax & Fundamentals

Variables, Data Types, Operators

Input & Output

Control Structures (if-else, switch, loops)

Hands-on Practice: Write simple programs (calculator, patterns, number games).

Object-Oriented Programming (Weeks 4–7) 

Core OOP Concepts

Classes & Objects

Methods & Constructors

Inheritance, Polymorphism, Encapsulation, Abstraction

Access Modifiers & Packages

Hands-on Projects:

Student Management System

Library Management (basic OOP design)

Advanced Core Java (Weeks 8–11) 

Collections Framework: List, Set, Map, Queue

Generics & Iterators

Exception Handling

File Handling (I/O)

Java 8 Features (Lambda Expressions, Streams, Functional Interfaces)

Hands-on Projects:

Employee Management (with Collections)

File-based Todo List

Multithreading & Concurrency (Weeks 12–13)

Threads, Runnable Interface

Synchronization

Concurrency Utilities

Executor Framework

Mini Project: Multi-threaded Bank Transaction Simulator

Java Database Connectivity (JDBC) (Weeks 14–15) 

Connecting Java to MySQL/SQLite

CRUD Operations

Prepared Statements

Mini Project: Inventory Management System with Database

GUI Development (Weeks 16–18)

JavaFX / Swing Basics

Event Handling

Layouts and Controls

Mini Project: Desktop Expense Tracker

Frameworks & Enterprise Java (Weeks 19–24)

Servlets & JSP (Introduction to Java Web Apps)

Spring Framework (Spring Core, Spring Boot)

Dependency Injection

REST APIs with Spring Boot

Mini Project: RESTful API for Student Records

Advanced Topics (Weeks 25–30) 

Design Patterns in Java (Singleton, Factory, Observer, etc.)

Unit Testing (JUnit, Mockito)

Logging Frameworks (Log4j/SLF4J)

Maven/Gradle for Build Automation

Capstone Project: Full-stack Java Web Application

Specialization (Optional, Ongoing)

Android Development with Java

Big Data (Hadoop, Spark with Java APIs)

Microservices with Spring Cloud

By following this 30-week (7–8 months) structured roadmap, you’ll gain strong expertise in Java from writing your first “Hello World” program to building enterprise-level applications. Along the way, practical projects ensure you can apply what you learn in real-world scenarios. Once you complete this path, you’ll be ready for careers in software engineering, Android development, or enterprise solutions.