There’s a common misconception in software development that you have to spend hours at the office, chained to a PC and coding books to learn a new programming language. The good news is, with the impressive development of mobile coding education, you can learn on your feet and combine professional development with running personal errands.
Whether you’re an experienced or a novice developer who wants to improve, there are mobile apps to learn Java. Let’s take a closer look at the most popular learning tools on the market.
1. SoloLearn
Programming languages
Python, JavaScript, C++, HTML, Java, C#, SQL, PHP, CSS, jQuery, Ruby, Swift.
In case you have no coding experience, SoloLearn looks like a good place to start a professional journey. The app is designed for people who have no coding skills. All you have to do is to drag and drop pieces of code and complete quick assignments.
The interface is minimalistic and intuitive. There are four tabs: ‘Learn’, with free coding lessons, ‘Play’ - here, you can challenge other users in online battles, ‘Code’ - a built-in integrated development environment, ‘Discuss’ - a forum where developers share tips and answer questions.
Pros
- Engaged and active community;
- Hundreds of free lessons;
- No pre-requisites for starting training;
Cons
- Doesn’t teach in-depth coding skills;
- Accessibility issues - the largest available font size has low legibility;
- SoloLearn certification is not well-received among employers.
Pricing: the platform is free.
Download this app for Android.
2. Programming Hub
Programming languages
HTML, Javascript, C, C++, C#, Swift, Python, R Programming, Java, Artificial Intelligence, CSS, etc.
While Sololearn is more of a community-based coding hub, Programming Hub is a purely learning-centered platform. All the courses published here have video and visual commentary to make sure you understand the core concepts of Java on a high level.
At the end of Programming Hub training, users will be able to design apps from scratch. The platform offers a built-in compiler and an integrated development environment to offer novice developers as much practical experience as possible.
Pros
- Customizable user interface;
- Built-in compiler;
- In-depth learning courses for middle-level Java developers.
Cons
- Users have to pay a subscription fee;
- Not enough basic practice problems for beginners;
- Fluctuating loading speed.
Pricing
To access Pro content, you will need to pay for a premium subscription. Programming Hub offers three membership plans:
$6.99/m - monthly subscription;
$14.59/m - quarterly subscription;
$41.99 - yearly subscription.
Download this app for Android.
3. CodeGym
Programming languages
Java.
CodeGym is one of the most promising mobile Java courses on the market. There are over 600 Java programming lectures and more than 1200 quizzes that help developers test their skills.
The app is practice-based. Theoretical concepts are not treated too in-depth since developers mostly learn through hands-on experiences. CodeGym is a low-commitment platform - studying for half an hour a day will be enough to notice tangible progress in a matter of weeks.
Pros
- Over 1200 Java coding tasks
- A custom mobile IDE
- By the end of the course, you’ll have over 500 hours of practical experience
- A strong community of Java developers
- Virtual assistants that oversee your progress
Cons
- Learning to learn the emulator takes time and effort
- Students have to code manually via the keyboard
Pricing
Codegym is free.
Download this app for Android.
4. Enki
Programming languages
SQL, Data Science, JavaScript, Python, Blockchain, CSS, HTML, Security, git, CompSci fundamentals, Linux and Java.
Enki is a go-to app for coding college students. While you’re expected to have the knowledge of basic tech terminology to use the app freely, the platform is beginner-friendly and thoroughly covers the basic topics of Java programming.
The in-app quizzes are short and fun to complete. The app memorizes your curriculum preferences and creates a custom learning schedule. Thanks to a built-in dashboard, novice developers can track their progress in Java education.
Pros
- Efficient supplement to CS college learning
- Fun games and quizzes to check the understanding of Java development concepts
- In-depth coding lessons
Cons
- Full of bugs and performance issues
- Accessing most in-app content requires paying for a subscription
- Low loading speed
Pricing
You can use the basic version of Enki to see how the app works. To access all lessons and topics, consider paying $9/month for a premium subscription.
Download this app for Android.
5. Easy Coder
Programming languages
Java.
Easy Coder is an e-learning app that introduces video learning into programming education. Most available tools don’t offer such deep and comprehensible commentaries. By watching professional developers solve problems in real-time and explaining every decision, you will be able to reason like a coder and progress faster.
EasyCoder offers a plethora of ways to test your skills and learn new programming concepts. Other than watching videos, developers can take quizzes, code from scratch in a built-in integrated development environment, and take on coding challenges.
Pros
- Interactive user interface
- Different types of learning activities - videos, quizzes, and challenges
- Caters both to beginners and intermediate developers
Cons
- Some videos are not subtitled in foreign languages
- No other languages than Java are supported
Pricing
The app is free. There’s a credit-based system - users have to complete challenges and quizzes to unlock premium content. You can purchase a package of credits as well.
Download this app for Android.
6. Encode
Programming languages
Python, JavaScript, HTML, CSS.
Encode is an app that teaches beginner developers Java programming, with the main focus on learning the basics of Android development. Before moving to the next learning level, a user will have to complete a series of challenges and practice problems.
This way, you can ensure you have grasped the core concepts of the lessons before moving on to more complex tasks.
The platform has an offline mode as well - novice developers can study and improve their coding skills even with no Internet connection.
Pros
- Intuitive user interface
- Offline mode
- Uses real code for references
Cons
- No active user community
- No in-depth programming courses
- A limited number of lessons
Pricing
The basic version of the app is free. For extra content, users have to pay $4.99/month.
Download this app for Android.
7. Codecademy
Programming languages
HTML & CSS, Python, JavaScript, SQL.
Codecademy boasts one of the largest developers community, with over 26 million of active professionals. There’s an extensive package of free Java lessons. If you have a premium account, you get to work with a personal assistant and have him review every assignment,
You can learn Java depending on your objective, be it front-end, mobile app, or computer software development - the platform offers different courses depending on what a student will be using the language for.
Although the platform is not highly interactive, it finds solid ways to motivate users by assigning them badges and unlocking extra content as soon as a developer reaches a higher education level.
Pros
- Robust documentation
- Offers personalized assistance
- Has a huge variety of courses on Java and other languages
Cons
- Performance bugs - slow loading and incorrect answers to questions
- Most courses are unavailable for free
- No course completion certifications
Pricing
$19.99m - monthly subscription;
$500/m - hiring a personal mentor.
Download this app for Android.
8. Learn Java Programming
Programming languages
Java.
Learn Java Programming is a database of Java Core tutorials. There’s commentary next to each concept that explains the theoretical basics with practical examples and pieces of real code.
You can share articles with friends or classmates. All learning content is available offline - you can download it as a PDF file.
Pros
- Closely follows the CS college program
- Targets both newcomers and intermediate experts
- Offline access to learning materials
Cons
- No interactivity, quizzes, nor an IDE
- Users repeatedly report performance issues
- Does not offer real-world practice problems
Pricing
The platform is free.
Download this app for Android.
9. Java Deep Learning: Core Java
Programming languages
Java.
The app helps developers boost Java proficiency for an exam, interview, or a personal project. Depending on the learning purpose, Java Deep Learning offers a personalized training program.
The content of the platform is highly versatile. In the ‘Interview’ tab, for instance, developers can see hundreds of questions employees usually ask at job interviews.
Although Java Deep Learning is aimed at beginners, users are required to have a basic idea of what classes are to follow the lectures comfortably.
Pros
- In-depth coverage of various programming language aspects
- Java.lang, Java.io, and Java.ui interfaces are covered
- Job interview questions and answers with commentary
Cons
- Spelling errors
- In-app ads
- Requires coding prerequisites
Pricing
The platform is free.
Download this app for Android.
10. Udemy
Programming languages
Although Udemy is a large learning platform that doesn’t specialize in Java per se, there are dozens of appealing courses for beginning Java devs. You can find free courses with practice problems, text lectures, and video commentary. Some of them are published by the big names in the industry - yes, Google, I am pointing at you.
Pros
- Wide selection of courses
- Widgets that check the correctness of your code
- Built-in IDE, the command-line interface is supported
Cons
- Users have to pay a monthly fee to access all courses
- No documentation or coding article database
Pricing
$200/month.
Download this app for Android.
Conclusion
The journey of Java learning starts with taking the first step. By using mobile apps to learn Java, you will improve on the go, without having to put in extra hours of office work. Since there’s no lack of free tools on the market, you will definitely find the right app for Java learning. In my experience, all apps reviewed above lay a solid ground for introduction to Java development. Be sure to give them a try and skyrocket your programming skills.