Course Content
UNIT 1: Java in Professional Software Development
Objective: Understand professional expectations from Java developers.
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Role of Java in enterprise and product companies
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Code quality vs feature delivery
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Maintainability, scalability, and extensibility
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Team-based development practices
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Version control workflows (GitFlow)
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Documentation standards (Javadoc, README, ADRs)
UNIT 2: Java Language Internals & Correct Usage
Objective: Write predictable, bug-free Java code.
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JVM memory model (stack, heap, metaspace)
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Object lifecycle and garbage collection
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Value vs reference semantics
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Immutability in Java
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Correct use of equals() and hashCode()
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Defensive copying
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Avoiding common Java pitfalls
UNIT 3: Clean Code Principles in Java
Objective: Improve readability and maintainability.
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Clean code philosophy
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Meaningful naming conventions
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Method size and single responsibility
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Avoiding deep nesting and complexity
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Guard clauses and early returns
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DRY, KISS, YAGNI principles
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Writing self-documenting Java code
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Practice: ✔ Refactor messy Java classes into clean code
UNIT 4: Object-Oriented Best Practices
Objective: Apply OOP correctly in real projects.
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SOLID principles in Java
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Encapsulation and information hiding
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Composition over inheritance
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Interface-based design
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Favor immutability
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Avoiding tight coupling
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Designing for extension
UNIT 5: Exception Handling & Error Management
Objective: Build reliable and fault-tolerant applications.
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Checked vs unchecked exceptions – when to use which
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Creating meaningful custom exceptions
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Exception translation layers
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Logging vs throwing exceptions
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Avoiding exception misuse
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Fail-fast vs fail-safe systems
UNIT 6: Collections, Generics & API Usage Best Practices
Objective: Use Java APIs efficiently and correctly.
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Choosing the right collection type
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Avoiding performance pitfalls
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Using generics safely
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Immutability with collections
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Stream API usage guidelines
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Avoiding overuse of streams
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API design best practices
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API design best practices
UNIT 7: Concurrency & Multithreading Best Practices
Objective: Write safe and efficient concurrent Java code.
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Concurrency challenges
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Thread safety principles
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Avoiding shared mutable state
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Using ExecutorService correctly
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Synchronization best practices
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Concurrent collections usage
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Common concurrency bugs and how to avoid them
UNIT 8: Performance Optimization Techniques
Objective: Improve runtime efficiency and scalability.
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Identifying performance bottlenecks
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JVM tuning basics
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Efficient object creation
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Caching strategies (basic concepts)
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Avoiding memory leaks
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Profiling with VisualVM
UNIT 9: Secure Coding Best Practices
Objective: Build secure Java applications.
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Secure input handling
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Preventing SQL injection
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Password handling basics
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Sensitive data protection
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Secure configuration management
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Logging and auditing
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OWASP Top 10 (overview for Java developers)
UNIT 10: Testing, Debugging & Quality Assurance
Objective: Ensure correctness and maintainability.
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Unit testing principles
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Writing testable Java code
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JUnit 5 best practices
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Mocking concepts (Mockito intro)
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Debugging strategies
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Code coverage basics
UNIT 11: Refactoring & Maintaining Legacy Java Code
Objective: Improve existing systems safely.
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Identifying code smells
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Refactoring techniques
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Breaking large classes
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Improving performance without breaking functionality
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Modernizing older Java code
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Documentation during refactoring
UNIT 12: Java Project Structure & Enterprise Readiness
Objective: Prepare Java projects for long-term use.
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Package structure conventions
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Layered architecture
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Configuration management
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Environment-specific setups
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Build automation with Maven
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Versioning and release practices
UNIT 13: Case Studies & Code Review Workshops
Objective: Apply best practices to real scenarios.
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Review of open-source Java projects
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Team code review simulations
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Identifying violations of best practices
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Proposing and implementing improvements
UNIT 14: Capstone – Best Practices Implementation Project
Objective: Apply all best practices in one comprehensive project.
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Capstone Options: Refactor an existing Java application to enterprise standards
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Build a clean, optimized Java system from scratch
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Improve performance, security, and maintainability of a Java project
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Mandatory Elements: ✔ Clean code
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SOLID design
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Proper exception handling
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Testing
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Documentation
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GitHub repository
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