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    <title>DEV Community: alexxjordan</title>
    <description>The latest articles on DEV Community by alexxjordan (@alexxjordan).</description>
    <link>https://dev.to/alexxjordan</link>
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      <title>DEV Community: alexxjordan</title>
      <link>https://dev.to/alexxjordan</link>
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    <item>
      <title>10 Java Developer Skills that are in High Demand</title>
      <dc:creator>alexxjordan</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Fri, 24 Sep 2021 05:49:29 +0000</pubDate>
      <link>https://dev.to/alexxjordan/10-java-developer-skills-that-are-in-high-demand-54mm</link>
      <guid>https://dev.to/alexxjordan/10-java-developer-skills-that-are-in-high-demand-54mm</guid>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;With over 9 million developers using Java as their mother tongue in programming, you can imagine the worldwide demand. As an aspiring developer looking to hone skills, you must know the skills you require to use Java proficiently. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Java has been in use since 1995, and its fast, reliable and secure system helps developers create a variety of software. The coder-friendly languages like C and C++ make the Java development skill high in demand. In order to crack through projects with large-scale companies for their long-term software requirement, there are plenty of &lt;a href="https://pragra.io/courses/full-stack-java-course"&gt;java full stack developer courses&lt;/a&gt; to educate you. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Why do you need to learn Java?
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Oracle states that there are more than 7 billion devices that incorporated Java for their establishment. Because of high demand, programming developers find it lucrative to know and imply this particular language. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;It is the primary programming language learned by most developers before moving on to other options. Java specialists earn a high salary and know a skill that will likely not become obsolete during their careers. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h2&gt;
  
  
  Top skills of a java developer
&lt;/h2&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Let us find out what are the most sought skills for applying Java assertively:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;
  
  
  1. Basic skills
&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;If you are starting out, you need to understand what Java is and start with basic skills. To build several types of software that range from desktop to mobile app, from web apps to cloud systems, you need Java. The capabilities stretch to Big Data apps with Python.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Your primary training in Java will include understanding and knowing:&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Object-oriented programming principles to understand language&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Control systems like BitBucket and Git&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Web technologies like CSS, HTML, and JQuery&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Maneuvering integrated development environment like IntelliJ IDEA&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;
  
  
  2. Spring Framework
&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Spring Framework is one of the most common tools for development, so knowing Spring Boot, Spring MVC, and Spring Cloud is essential for web app development.&lt;br&gt;
Spring Framework helps Java developers practice dependency injection to make every application more testable. Modern-day software needs such a feature to make them easier to manage and upgrade.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Beginners must first familiarize themselves with the Spring system and then move to Boot and Cloud development strategies. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;
  
  
  3.SQL
&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="https://dev.to/katholder/what-is-sql-mainly-used-for-1lb4"&gt;SQL&lt;/a&gt; is an essential skill required in every programmer, irrespective of the language. Since data is the primary key for any program development, SQL is crucial for analyzing data. You cannot develop programs without learning SQL. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;
  
  
  4.REST
&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Since nowadays most applications involve API, you need to take up the skill of knowing REST. While REST has had a significant presence over the past decade, GraphQL is gradually replacing it. However, when introducing yourself to the world of Java, REST is one of the classic tools to learn. You might eventually have to learn GraphQL, but knowing REST will only help you pick it up faster.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;
  
  
  5. Kotlin for Android
&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Without going through the web development phase, developers can begin developing mobile applications. So, knowing Kotlin to develop Android apps will take you one step closer to strengthening your skills in Java. Kotlin is a modified version of the traditional Java language. So, familiarizing yourself with it will only enhance your skills further.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;
  
  
  6. Microservices
&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The shift from monolithic applications to microservices is pretty evident with the constant change in architecture. Microservice is currently a growing need for all Java developers. So not learning might make you lag behind your competitors.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The usage of Spring Boot and Spring Cloud makes the use of microservice development easy for developers. Thus, it is best to learn the Spring Framework to become well-versed with Microservices.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;
  
  
  7. AWS
&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Amazon Web Service (AWS) is one of the most commonly used cloud platforms right now. AWS is no more one of the options to choose from but a skill to hone due to its growing popularity. There is a massive demand for people who know AWS tools and environments like S3, EC2, Virtual Private Cloud, and more.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;
  
  
  8. JUnit and Mockito
&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The knowledge and skill required to understand unit testing skills can differentiate a good developer from an average. A skilled developer usually writes unit tests for codes. A company looking to hire a professional might ask if you do so. &lt;br&gt;
Testing has evolved, and there are many tools for unit testing, automation testing, and integration testing. JUnit is a must-have skill for Java developers and also the best library, to begin with.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;
  
  
  9. DevOps tools
&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Knowing DevOps tools is also one of the must-know skills for applying Java. Skilled developers constantly upgrade themselves in terms of continuous deployment, continuous integration, and Jenkins’ role for both processes.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Developers who need to implement best coding practices would know how to create manuals and scripts. Thus, having sound knowledge of Docker, Kubernetes, Chef, Jenkins, and Maven tools is necessary for DevOps incorporation.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;h3&gt;
  
  
  10. TDD
&lt;/h3&gt;

&lt;p&gt;For developers who have their basics cleared and looking for new skills to adopt must learn TDD. It is a skill that needs in-depth learning and understanding and can be new to most Java specialists. But knowing TDD can improve your coding quality and make you offer better finished products. The test-code-test-refractor works fast in Java and can make the entire process easier to maneuver.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Final thoughts&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Along with learning skills associated with Java, it is essential to update yourself with the new versions introduced by Java constantly. Usually, a new update of Java is released every six months, and it is a big challenge to keep up with the changes. &lt;br&gt;
Most experienced Java specialists have evolved across 8-10 versions and know the importance of staying updated for the best application. Most jobs that need you to learn Java require 8+ skills. If you do not know the versions over 8, you will find it difficult to crack through interviews.&lt;br&gt;
Experienced Java developers must hone new skills like TDD and AWS that are growing in popularity and demand. These will only polish and strengthen the existing skills. &lt;/p&gt;

</description>
      <category>java</category>
      <category>webdev</category>
      <category>devops</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>6 Ways In Which Managed Services Industry Is Becoming A Key Driver For Remote Working </title>
      <dc:creator>alexxjordan</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 13 Jul 2021 06:22:39 +0000</pubDate>
      <link>https://dev.to/alexxjordan/6-ways-in-which-managed-services-industry-is-becoming-a-key-driver-for-remote-working-4338</link>
      <guid>https://dev.to/alexxjordan/6-ways-in-which-managed-services-industry-is-becoming-a-key-driver-for-remote-working-4338</guid>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Since early 2020, the trend of working remotely has skyrocketed like never before. As the world was hit by a pandemic, professionals across the globe were forced to stay home and organizations had to function virtually. Companies had to resort to online collaborative platforms like Zoom, Slack, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams to set up virtual workspaces and collaborate with their employees in the best possible ways. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;However, the trend of working remotely is not new. Organizations across the board have had remote employees for several years, whether they are MNCs or startups. The culture of working from home had already been popular enough before the trend shot up two years ago. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Along with all the flexibility and convenience, working remotely comes with its own set of challenges. Without on-premise working, it gets difficult for managers to onboard new employees and collaborate with the existing ones. However, a few processes work better when it comes to working remotely. Availing of managed services is one of them. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Managed services were designed to help service providers offer proactive and remote services to organizations. As opposed to on-premise services, managed services do not involve the service providers physically visiting the workspaces or any location where the systems are physically located. Here, the service providers offer their services remotely, irrespective of the location of the client organizations. This makes for an ideal scenario for procuring services while working remotely. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Here are some of the major ways in which the managed services industry is becoming a key driver for remote working:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;1. Reduced Downtime&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;When you work on-premise within an infrastructure that is managed traditionally, even a small downtime disrupts the functioning of your organization. When the system across your organization is down, your customers cannot connect with you, your employees cannot obtain support, your team cannot continue with their work, and a range of processes come to a standstill.  &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;This &lt;a href="https://www.blazeclan.com/studies/fastest-growing-financial-services-company-devops-based-managed-services/"&gt;DevOps Managed Services Case Study&lt;/a&gt; shows how they ensured Zero Downtime for a financial services company.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Managed services make sure that your system is constantly monitored remotely by dedicated professionals. These professionals get to work immediately when your system and server start facing difficulty, ensuring that you experience little to no downtime. If you have employees working remotely, they can all have their systems monitored effectively by managed service providers. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;2. Reduced Costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;On-premise software implementation, repairs, and maintenance often cost organizations a good chunk of their budgets. This is because it requires dedicated professionals to visit the workspaces and charge a substantial amount as their fees. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;In the case of availing of managed services, while working remotely, there is no need to pay the professionals during every visit. As all the services are provided remotely, organizations can cut down their costs by subscribing to suitable service providers. Also, most managed service providers offer different subscription options to companies based on their budget requirements. This helps them in allocating their budget and channel their resources effectively. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;3. High Data Security&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;When your organization operates virtually, data management plays an important role in carrying out almost every business process. It is important to ensure utmost data security to collect, store, track, and assess records remotely. On-premise security services are no longer relevant and effective in 2021 as cyberattacks and frauds have become more subtle. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Through constant monitoring and assessment, managed service providers make sure that your system (and those of your remote employees) is secure and private. The dedicated professionals make use of cloud security monitoring software platforms that identify potential threats, notify the users about the same in real-time, and help them remediate the issues to resume smooth functioning. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;4. Making Business Processes Simpler&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;When you avail of managed services while working remotely, it helps you simplify your business processes and approach towards an organized workspace. Instead of having to manage all processes by themselves, organizations can automate a range of IT processes and help their employees save their time and effort. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Remote managed services help you reduce both financial and logistical burdens on your organization. It helps you streamline a number of business processes, automate them, and allows your team to obtain the best possible results. Ultimately, you and your employees can utilize the saved time and effort to focus on the more pressing issues. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;5. High Data Compliance&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;In the age of GDPR, it is important for an organization to ensure complete security and privacy of the data collected from its customers/clients. While you operate remotely, managed services help you adhere to all data compliance regulations of your company and the country you operate in.  &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Data compliance helps you provide utmost transparency of the data collected from your customers and provide them with the right to have complete knowledge of when and how their data is utilized. Right from collecting only the required data to have complete disclosure about its usage, managed service providers make it easier for organizations operating remotely to ensure complete data compliance without facing any hassle. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;6. Seamless Employee Support&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;When your employees work remotely, it is often challenging for an organization to provide streamlined support to them. The in-house support executives and agents may or may not always be available to assist your employees when they are in need of urgent help. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Managed service providers often provide proactive support to your employees round the clock. Implementing advanced employee service desks help your employees get their issues resolved at any time and from any location. This helps your remote employees save the time that would have otherwise been wasted on looking for relevant solutions to their issues. Managed service providers offer personalized support to all your remote employees, helping them get back to work almost immediately. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;The Final Word&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Remote working is a trend that is not going anywhere anytime soon. It is, therefore, advisable for organizations to leverage their business processes to improve the work done virtually. Managed services are designed to suit the remote working culture perfectly and provide your employees with a seamless work experience while working from their respective houses. &lt;/p&gt;

</description>
      <category>security</category>
      <category>cloud</category>
      <category>devops</category>
    </item>
    <item>
      <title>How does Elasticity affect Cloud Computing?</title>
      <dc:creator>alexxjordan</dc:creator>
      <pubDate>Tue, 23 Mar 2021 07:13:49 +0000</pubDate>
      <link>https://dev.to/alexxjordan/how-does-elasticity-affect-cloud-computing-16pj</link>
      <guid>https://dev.to/alexxjordan/how-does-elasticity-affect-cloud-computing-16pj</guid>
      <description>&lt;p&gt;Cloud computing is a great solution for many companies today. These advantages may include centralized infrastructure, cost efficiency, ease of access, no need for physical repairs, etc. All of these benefits are very useful for the companies. However, most of these benefits can be found in other technologies. One advantage that is exclusively only available on cloud computing is cloud elasticity. On this page, we are going to talk about cloud elasticity and its relationship to cloud computing. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Elasticity may refer to the dynamic allocation of the cloud resources to the workflows, projects, and processes. In the cloud system, it is the system that is provided by the cloud vendors to have the exact amount of resources required by the company. It will allow all users to optimize their resource usage efficiently. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;What is Cloud Elasticity?&lt;/strong&gt; &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Cloud elasticity is a process that is done by the cloud provider for fulfilling the customers’ needs. Cloud providers are going to offer the right resources to the company based on their needs. They have a good system that will deliver and remove resources automatically, so they can provide the right amount of resources for every project. For the customers, they will get enough power to run their projects without wasting money on any unnecessary resources. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;For explaining the elasticity in the cloud, we rea going to take a look at the example of running and storing an application in the cloud. An app will need a specific environment to work properly, for example, virtual machines, computing power, and also storage space. The cloud is elastic, so you will only get the resources that you need for running the application. In the future, you may want to use more virtual machines to run many different applications. Before you need the other resources, you are only charged for the resources that you are using. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Overprovisioning and Underprovisioning&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;The main reason for using cloud elasticity is to prevent the underprovisioning and overprovisioning of the resources. Giving the cloud users too little or too many resources will give a disadvantage for the users. If the clients get too many resources, they are going to pay more for any unnecessary resources. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;If they get too few resources, they will never be able to run their apps or their needs correctly. An elastic system can be used to detect any changes in the workflows and also processes in the cloud. Therefore, this system will correct the resource provisioning automatically to adjust the user’s projects. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cloud Elasticity vs Cloud Scalability&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Some people are confused when they are trying to differentiate cloud elasticity and cloud scalability. They are commonly used interchangeably and also talked in the same sentence. You need to know the differences between both terms. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Scalability will refer to the shrinking and growing of the workflows or architectures in the pre-build infrastructures without impacting the overall performance. Both scalability and elasticity will be important for cloud users. They need to grow their workflows that can match their companies’ needs. They also need to know that they have the right amount of resources to run any apps in their companies. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Cloud scalability will add the computing resources for meeting the demands. When the workload grows, you may want to have a good system that can handle the growth. It is called scalability. For example, when you are running an e-commerce site, you may expect to see a traffic rise during the holiday season, such as December. You need to scale up the resources to handle the seasonal demand. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Cloud elasticity will represent some approaches for allocating computing resources. It will provide the right resources required for the workload, but it will scale up and down the resources based on the loads. If you are using the &lt;a href="https://www.blazeclan.com/blog/managed-service-providers-msps-all-you-need-to-know/"&gt;managed service&lt;/a&gt;, you will be able to get the right resources for any of your needs. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Why Do Cloud Elasticity and Cloud Scalability Matter?&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Service Availability&lt;/strong&gt; The scalability will enable the stable system to grow, while the elasticity will solve any variable resource demands. Both of them can be scaled up based on your needs. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Better Performance&lt;/strong&gt; Elastic and scalable configurations are specially used to ensure consistent performance. All customers need to have the best customer experience by using both scalability and elasticity. &lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Cost-Effectiveness&lt;/strong&gt; The combination of cloud elasticity and cloud scalability will allow you to manage resources efficiently. You will never overpay for the off-peak periods. For cost management, the elasticity will offer a better optimization than scalability. &lt;/p&gt;

</description>
      <category>cloudskills</category>
      <category>devops</category>
      <category>cloud</category>
      <category>aws</category>
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