DEV Community: Namada Junior

Starting My Java Learning Journey 🚀

Namada Junior — Sat, 07 Jun 2025 11:36:52 +0000

Hey Devs 👋,

I’ve recently decided to start learning Java, and I wanted to document my journey here on Dev.to — both to help others who might be starting and to keep track of my own progress. If you're also just getting started or thinking about it, I hope this helps!

🧠 Why Java?

Java has been around for decades and continues to power everything from enterprise systems to Android apps. Some reasons I picked it:

🔒 Strong typing and structured syntax (great for learning fundamentals)
🧩 OOP (Object-Oriented Programming) is baked in
💼 It's widely used in enterprise applications
📱 It’s the foundation of Android development

📘 What I’ve Learned So Far

✅ The Basics

I started with the classic Hello World example and moved on to variables and data types:

public class HelloWorld {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        String name = "Nam";
        int age = 20;
        boolean isStudent = true;

        System.out.println("Hello, " + name);
        System.out.println("Age: " + age);
        System.out.println("Is Student: " + isStudent);
    }
}

Functions (a.k.a. Methods)

I learned how to write my own methods:

public static void greet(String name) {
    System.out.println("Good morning, " + name + "!");
}

Then called them from the main method.

Loops

Loops are really useful — especially when working with lists or doing repetitive tasks.

for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++) {
    System.out.println("Loop count: " + i);
}

🔧 Tools I'm Using

Java 11 (OpenJDK) — though I’m learning about Java 21+ and its new features
VS Code with the Java Extension Pack
Terminal (on Ubuntu via WSL)

🧭 What’s Next?

Understand object-oriented concepts (classes, objects, inheritance, etc.)
Explore file handling, exception handling, and collections
Maybe try building a small console app!

💬 Final Thoughts

Learning Java has been fun so far. The syntax is a bit strict compared to Python or JavaScript, but that’s also teaching me to be more thoughtful and organized.

If you’re new to Java or learning it too — let’s connect! I'd love to hear how others are approaching it.

Thanks for reading!
Happy coding 👨‍💻👩‍💻

The beginning of my backend jouney

Namada Junior — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 18:13:45 +0000

Python and SQL

Learning Python and SQL marks the beginning of my backend journey.

I began with Python. The simplicity of Python’s syntax made coding feel less intimidating. "Print 'Hello, World!'" was the first line I wrote; seeing it work brought a sense of accomplishment. Soon, I learned about variables, functions, loops, and classes, becoming comfortable handling data and solving simple problems. I particularly enjoyed Python’s flexibility in tackling tasks ranging from data analysis to web development.

As I grew more confident, the need for data storage and management became clear. This led to SQL—a new adventure. SQL, short for Structured Query Language, opened a whole new world of databases. I learned how to create tables, insert data, and fetch information with SELECT queries. Writing SQL felt like uncovering hidden information within vast data sets. I was fascinated by how powerful it felt to use a few lines of SQL to retrieve the exact data needed.

One day, while working on an assignment, I realized the power of combining Python with SQL. Python made it easy to write scripts, while SQL efficiently managed the data. I learned how to use Python’s sqlite3 library to interact with a database, fetching data, processing it in Python, and even inserting new records—all from one script.

With persistence, I am mastering Python and SQL, feeling empowered to build anything from data-driven applications to comprehensive analytics projects. The journey wasn't easy, but the satisfaction of solving real-world problems using Python and SQL made it all worthwhile. I have become a true problem-solver, ready to tackle any data challenge.

Learning React

Namada Junior — Tue, 20 Aug 2024 07:48:33 +0000

Being a web developer, I was proficient in HTML and JavaScript but found managing complex websites increasingly challenging. The code became difficult to maintain, and handling dynamic content and user interactions felt overwhelming. I discovered React, a JavaScript library for building user interfaces, and decided to try it.

The following are some of the features and advantages I came across when I was learning and using React

Component-Based Architecture: Allows breaking down the UI into reusable, self-contained pieces. Results in more organized and manageable code.
State and Props System: Enables the creation of dynamic and interactive components.
Simplified Navigation and State Management: Tools like React Router simplify navigation. Redux helps manage application state effectively.
Enhanced Developer Experience: Supported by a vast and active community. Offers helpful tools and libraries.

With React, I found web development to be not only structured and efficient but also scalable. Building complex applications became easier, and the ability to create powerful, performant web applications led me to embrace React as a vital tool in my web development journey.

After learning React, I teamed up with my peers and embarked on a project to put our newly acquired skills to the test.
I was in a team of 4 members:

Ivy Mburu - Leader
Namada Junior - Secretary(me)
Joshua Nyambane
Kevin Kiptoo

This is the link to our project. The school is entirely on paper and has no relation to any existing Bayside school.

The beginning of my life as a full-stack developer.

Namada Junior — Fri, 19 Jul 2024 07:22:37 +0000

My journey to becoming a full-stack developer started on June 3, 2024, as of now I have picked up front-end skills in not only HTML but also CSS and JavaScript. I am still polishing my skills by working on several personal projects such as:

My portfolio which was my first website
My potforlio
The Namfoods restaurant is a restaurant that is purely paper.
Namfoods

I work on improving my skills as much as possible through practice and updating the websites I have made.