SCJA useful for non Java developer?

[rob mcgregor]

Hi,

Working as a web developer for a small company at the moment (mostly front-end work using XHTML/CSS with some back-end work using PHP/MySQL).


I did a little Java a few years ago but have had no experience since then and all programming since then has been procedural PHP.

Really want to be involved in more advanced web development and feel I need to have a better grasp of OO development in general before deciding which route to learn and develop my skills in (probably ASP.NET (C#) or J2EE).

From what I've read, the SCJA seems like a good way to understand OO at an abstract level and also gives a good base knowledge of Java(which may be useful for the J2EE route).

I'd be interested to know if anybody has been or is in a similar position and if the SCJA sounds like a good route to achieve my goals.

Thanks

Rob

[Frankey James]

Originally posted by rob mcgregor:
Hi,

Working as a web developer for a small company at the moment (mostly front-end work using XHTML/CSS with some back-end work using PHP/MySQL).


I did a little Java a few years ago but have had no experience since then and all programming since then has been procedural PHP.

Really want to be involved in more advanced web development and feel I need to have a better grasp of OO development in general before deciding which route to learn and develop my skills in (probably ASP.NET (C#) or J2EE).

From what I've read, the SCJA seems like a good way to understand OO at an abstract level and also gives a good base knowledge of Java(which may be useful for the J2EE route).

I'd be interested to know if anybody has been or is in a similar position and if the SCJA sounds like a good route to achieve my goals.

Thanks

Rob

SCJA is perfect for you if you go the Java route, as you'll get a refresher on Java basics, OOP/A concepts, and some VERY basic web services knowledge.

Really, though, you don't have to get a cert to learn something. In this case, the OOP skills that you would learn are very minimal and probably not worth the time to study the entire SCJA cert. Perhaps get UML toolkit book, get an OMG certification, and learn whichever language you are interested in - or both c#/java.

Also, look into Microsft exams 70-536 and 70-528...the latter being directly tied to ASP.Net web-dev which can be done in either C# or VB (why does MS support that garbage??).

If you want to avoid certs all together, get the UML toolkit book, and either java web component book and java headfirst book, or c# intro book and programing in asp.net 3.5 book. Silverlight is really fun if you go the route of MS....

Several months later and a few projects later, you'll be ready to conquer the world!

Good luck!!

[K. Tsang]

I'm been doing PHP for some time now that's before I take java seriously. Anyway, if you have PHP base, the programmer cert may be a better route, instead of doing the associate then programmer.

I personally think the difference between SCJA and SCJP is SCJA allows you to get a bit of the different platforms and UML. But of course preparing for SCJP is tougher than SCJA.

Picking up OO concepts isn't hard but getting the nitty gritty of java may be hard for some. Also what cert to get or whether to get a cert is really up to you and your goals.

Start with java intro books like Head First Java will be suffice for now.