Microsoft has launched an educational website for Java developers, covering everything from an introduction to the programming language to developing complex apps.

Those who consider themselves visual learners are in luck, as the website features a series of short videos dedicated to the fundamentals of Java. As you might expect from a company-sponsored website, there’s also quite a bit of documentation about how to use Java in conjunction with Microsoft’s tools and platforms, most notably Azure.

Microsoft did something similar with Python a few years back, launching a considerable number of Python for Beginners videos that broke down loops, functions, collections, APIs, and much more. Whether or not you’re interested in actually working in Microsoft’s ecosystem, the videos were definitely informative for those interested in the programming language.

Microsoft isn’t alone in offering educational resources to technologists; Google, Apple, Oracle, and other tech companies have spent the past several years pushing out documentation and videos for various programming languages and tools. As a marketing tactic, it’s a solid one: technologists are always hungry to learn whatever they can, and building out an educational portal is a good way for a company to build a connection with potential customers. With all that in mind, technologists can draw the information they need from these portals without having to pay too much attention to any associated marketing messages.  

At 25+ years old, Java is the very definition of an enduring programming language. It features a “write once, run anywhere” (WORA) design, which means it can run on any device with a Java Virtual Machine (JVM). It’s popular in specialized industries such as finance, as well as mobile development (if you want to work with Android apps in any capacity, knowing Java is an absolute must). 

According to Lightcast (formerly Emsi Burning Glass), which collects and analyzes millions of job postings from across the country, the median Java developer salary is $102,000, which is quite high for technology positions. When combined with highly specialized skills such as machine learning, Java developers can potentially make even more. That’s great motivation for learning the language.