Build Real Java Applications from First Principles to Database
Learn Java by writing working programs — from variables and control flow through OOP, JDBC, and a deployable portfolio project.
This course takes you from writing your first Java program to building a SQLite-backed inventory management system you can publish to GitHub. Along the way, you'll apply every concept through hands-on labs that mirror real development tasks — not toy exercises. By the end, you'll have working code, practical debugging skills, and a public portfolio project.
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What you'll gain
You'll progress from Java fundamentals to a complete, database-backed application — writing code that connects to SQLite, handles exceptions, and reads and writes persistent data.
You'll build class hierarchies, implement polymorphism, and practice encapsulation through labs like a bank account system and a shape hierarchy — skills directly transferable to professional Java codebases.
The course ends with a finished Inventory Management System pushed to a public GitHub repository, complete with a professional README you can point employers or collaborators to immediately.
Who this course is for
You understand basic programming concepts but haven't worked extensively in Java. This course gives you a structured path through the language — including OOP, collections, and JDBC — with enough depth to use Java confidently in coursework or internships.
You write code professionally in another language and want to add Java to your toolkit without sitting through material you already know. The course moves efficiently from fundamentals to real-world patterns, with labs that respect your existing technical baseline.
You're transitioning into software development and need a thorough, practical foundation rather than a surface-level survey. This course walks you through the full arc from writing basic programs to building, testing, and publishing a complete Java application.
What you'll learn
The course opens with Java fundamentals — syntax, types, control flow, and methods — then builds into object-oriented programming across two focused modules covering encapsulation, inheritance, polymorphism, and interfaces. From there, you'll work with the Collections Framework, handle exceptions, read and write files, and connect to a real database using JDBC. The final modules shift to professional practice: organizing code with Maven, writing unit tests, using Git for version control, and completing a full-scale project that ties every skill together.
Module 1
Java Fundamentals
4 lessons
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Module 2
Control Flow
3 lessons
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Module 3
Methods and Code Organization
3 lessons
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Module 4
Arrays and Strings
3 lessons
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Module 5
Object-Oriented Programming Basics
3 lessons
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Module 6
OOP Intermediate
3 lessons
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Module 7
Collections Framework
3 lessons
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Module 8
Exception Handling and Debugging
3 lessons
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Module 9
File I/O and Data Persistence
3 lessons
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Module 10
Database Access with JDBC
3 lessons
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Module 11
Packages, Maven, and Testing
3 lessons
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Module 12
Building Real-World Projects
3 lessons
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Module 13
Professional Development and Next Steps
3 lessons
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Learn by doing
Each module includes a hands-on lab where you write, run, and debug real Java code using standard development tools including the terminal, Maven, GDB-compatible debuggers, and SQLite via JDBC. Labs are designed to produce functional, testable programs — not isolated snippets — so every exercise adds to a growing body of work you've built yourself.
- Write a Java program using Scanner that prompts the user for height and weight, calculates BMI, and displays the result with a weight category
- Implement input validation using conditionals and exception handling to reject invalid entries without crashing
- Build an interactive number guessing game using loops, conditionals, and Java's Random class that gives the player hints and tracks attempts
- Add input validation to reject non-numeric entries and out-of-range guesses, keeping the loop running until valid input is provided
- Create a set of well-documented static methods that convert between Celsius, Fahrenheit, and Kelvin, each with clear parameters and return values
- Write a menu-driven driver program that calls the library methods, demonstrating proper method design, overloading, and Javadoc comments
- Build a program that reads a block of text and reports word count, character count, most frequent words, and sentence count using arrays and String methods
- Use StringBuilder and formatted output to display a clean, readable summary report of the analysis results
- Design and implement a BankAccount class with private instance fields for balance and owner, and methods for deposit, withdrawal, and transfer
- Override toString() to produce meaningful output and use encapsulation to prevent invalid balance changes from outside the class
- Design an abstract Shape class (or interface) with concrete subclasses like Circle, Rectangle, and Triangle that each implement area and perimeter calculations
- Write a driver program that stores different shapes in a single collection and calls their methods polymorphically, demonstrating dynamic dispatch
- Build a grade tracker using a HashMap of student names mapped to lists of scores, supporting add, update, and average calculation operations
- Use a HashSet to track which students have submitted all assignments and use Comparator to sort students by average grade
- Build a four-function calculator that uses try/catch blocks to handle division by zero, invalid input, and unexpected errors without crashing
- Implement a custom exception class for out-of-range inputs and use finally to ensure cleanup actions always run regardless of errors
- Create a contact manager that saves and loads contacts to a CSV file, supporting add, search, and delete operations that persist between program runs
- Use try-with-resources and proper file path handling to safely read and write data, demonstrating real-world file I/O patterns
- Connect to a SQLite database using JDBC and the sqlite-jdbc Maven dependency, creating a tasks table if it does not already exist
- Implement add, complete, delete, and list operations using PreparedStatement, with all database resources managed via try-with-resources
- Extend the SQLite-backed application with a reporting feature that runs aggregate SQL queries (COUNT, SUM, GROUP BY) and displays formatted summary output
- Use ResultSetMetaData to dynamically read column names and types, producing a generic query-and-print utility method that works across different result sets
- Organize a utility application across multiple packages — a math helper, a string helper, and a main driver — demonstrating package structure and Maven project layout
- Write JUnit test classes for at least two utility methods, verifying correct behavior and edge cases using assertions
- Build a complete inventory management system backed by SQLite via JDBC that records items, tracks stock levels, and supports adding, updating, and removing inventory
- Apply planning, modular class design, and refactoring techniques to produce a clean, well-structured application that integrates OOP, collections, exceptions, file/database I/O, and testing from across the course
- Initialize a Git repository for your Inventory Management System, write a professional README following Java conventions, and push the project to a public GitHub repository
- Identify two Java career paths of interest and outline a 90-day learning plan with specific resources, projects, and milestones for continued growth
Destin Learning
Destin Learning creates practical, project-driven courses for developers, IT professionals, and tech enthusiasts who want to build real skills — not just pass a certification exam.
Every course is built around hands-on labs, working code, and real-world tools. Our students learn by doing: writing programs, configuring systems, and solving problems in environments that mirror what they'll encounter on the job.
Our courses cover systems programming, Linux administration, cloud infrastructure, AI and machine learning, and foundational computer science — all taught with the same philosophy: understand it deeply, build it yourself, and know why it works.
Destin Learning · destinlearning.com
Start Building Java Applications Today
Self-paced video lessons, hands-on labs, and a complete portfolio project — contact us for pricing and enrollment details.
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