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Hiring Java Developers

Legendary as a high-level language, Java has established itself as a household name for developers and consumers alike. Making its name by providing a programming language that is comfortable for those just starting to learn to code, as well as seasoned developers. By remaining fairly similar to C and C++, it is easy to pick up for experienced developers who have used these languages in the past. Java can lend itself kindly to your team of developers, whether you are developing web-apps or desktop applications. Let’s take a closer look at what makes Java a great choice for your upcoming project. 

What Is Java?

Java is a general-purpose programming language and a software platform invented by James Gosling at Sun Microsystems and is now owned by Oracle. Java as a programming language is a class-based object-oriented language that is designed to be cross-platform thanks to the JVM (Java Virtual Machine). The JVM sits on top of a computer’s underlying architecture and you might even recall having to install Java in the past in order to access certain web applications. 

The Java programming language was built to honor the following principles:

• It must be simple, object-oriented, and familiar.
• It must be robust and secure.
• It must be architecture-neutral and portable.
• It must execute with high performance.
• It must be interpreted, threaded, and dynamic.

Java as a software platform is basically just a suite of programs that allow Java programs to be developed and executed. The JVM, compiler, and core libraries are all part of the Java software platform and it’s not tied to any specific processor or operating system. You can read more about the Java software platform here. 

What Is a Java Developer?

A Java developer is someone who has professional experience working with Java, most likely either using the Java SE or Java EE platforms. There are also Java-based web developers that use application frameworks such as Spring to create web applications as well as Android developers that leverage the Java programming language to build mobile applications within Android Studio. You’ll find that many Java developers have moved on to JavaScript-based technologies due to the shift in popularity towards JavaScript technologies. That isn’t to say that there aren’t many Java developers around, there most certainly are, but they just aren’t as common as they once were. 

Why Use Java? 

If you are developing an application that requires a lot of user interaction, it makes sense to prioritize speedy performance for your project. Java offers a compiler that allows for wicked fast performance, as well as full support for multi-threading. Rest assured, if you use Java you can be confident that your applications will be high-performance, with responsive and dynamic elements easy to implement using these performance-centered features.  

Portability is a huge plus to Java, and it’s why it’s such a delight for some programmers to work with. By using Java’s Virtual Machine, the platform allows for your program to run in a stable way on practically any device that has Java installed. The Java Virtual Machine is very widespread across machines on an international scale, so this certainly makes building one version of your application more simple and approachable. There are several aspects that make Java simple and approachable. For one, Java takes some of the basic design principles from C++ and creates a full-fledged object-oriented programming environment out of it. 

This allows developers to utilize the stability and functionality found in languages like C and C++, and allow more rapid development through a more simple object-oriented design. On top of this, Java has the capabilities for more simple memory management through automatic garbage collection. Combining all of this with a huge amount of useful frameworks that help you deploy usable applications using Java, it makes sense that so many choose it to power their next project.

Advantages of Using Java

Object-oriented

Java is an object oriented programming language that shares similarities with C++ but works on a slightly higher level. Java’s object oriented principles allow developers to create classes and reusable components for a cleaner codebase and architecture. 

Platform independent

Java is independent on both source and binary levels. That being said, Java applications are able to be executed on any operating system and browser thanks to frameworks like Spring. 

Companies who use Java 

• Amazon
• Google
• Peloton
• Uber
• Airbnb
• Netflix
• Slack
• Spotify
• Instagram

Hire a Java Developer

Even though Java is still one of the most popular programming languages, the reality is that JavaScript has taken over when it comes to web development. This shift has forced many Java developers to adopt newer technologies in order to stay employed. What this means is that Java developers aren’t as easy to find as they once were. If you are a startup looking to hire a young and bright-minded team, the chances of finding a millennial Java developer who actually loves working in Java are slim. The exception to this is working with Android developers. Even then, you are facing a coming shift with the growth and maturity of Kotlin, Java’s successor. 

How to hire Java developers

For those who wish to take the high road and hire Java developers on your own, we’re still here to help. Hiring a developer on your own is a very focused and hands-on process that requires considerable knowledge about software development in general. The last thing you want to do is trust your hiring process to someone with no technical ability. If you are a non-technical manager looking to learn a thing or two, we have a great resource here for you to learn more about the hiring process in detail. 

What to look for in a Java developer

The desirable skills to look for in a Java developer depend on what you are trying to build. Let’s take a look at what those traits are on a high-level from a web and mobile perspective.

• Web Development
• Proficiency with Java and their standard library
• Knowledge using Java SE or Java EE
• At least one MVC framework like JSF, Struts, or Spring MVC
• Working with databases like Hibernate or JPA
• Dependency injection (@Resource)
• Testing with JUnit
• Using build tools such as Maven, Ant, etc
• SOAP-based web services (JAX-WS)
• Version Control (Git)
• Experience using continuous integration tools
• Mobile Development
• Proficiency with Java and their standard library
• Knowledge of Android Studio and the Android SDK
• Working with XML and ConstraintLayout to build UI for multiple devices
• Knowledge of MVC and MVVM design patterns
• Using build tools such as Gradle, Maven, etc
• Interested in learning Kotlin

How much do Java developers cost in the U.S?

The average salary for a Senior Java developer is $129,553 per year in the United States, according to Ziprecruiter.com data.

Hourly rates for Java Developers

Another way to look at developer costs is through hourly rates. While salaries are good to understand for hiring developers for full-time and long-term, you might just need a developer for a period of 3-6 months or 6-12 months. In these types of situations, it’s best to calculate your costs based on the hourly rates of a developer.  Experienced Java developers with good track record and communication skills usually start at 25+ USD for junior positions and go up to 60 USD hourly 

ExpandAcross Java developers are pre-vetted, interviewed and then trained further to become true software professionals, capable of adapting to situations that are both within and outside of the scope of their general expertise. At ExpandAcross, we hold our developers to a higher standard. Much like how elite special forces units recruit only the best from main branches of the military, we recruit developers who either show amazing potential or demonstrate exceptional skill. We then take their talents and sharpen them even further.

Another benefit of hiring a ExpandAcross developer is that you won’t incur the costs of hiring, which can add up to be around 30% of a developer’s salary on average, as well as overhead costs associated with full-time employment. By working with ExpandAcross, you can enjoy a highly experienced full-time developer for a fraction of the cost, along with the added project management assistance. 

To learn more, hit us up and tell us about your project so that we can get you started.