The First Steps To Java and Object-Oriented Programming


Prior to  starting to dive into Java, one of the biggest recommendations I can make is to choose an IDE to help you code. Selecting an IDE is an important part of learning Java because it simplifies coding, reduces errors, and helps beginners focus on understanding programming concepts rather than dealing with setup and syntax issues.

I first started coding with VBA, which helped me recognize the importance of using an IDE, since Microsoft applications have built-in IDE(Visual Basic Editor). This significantly improved my coding experience by allowing me to quickly identify and fix errors as I wrote the code. A good starting point is to evaluate and compare different IDEs to find the one that best suits your needs and workflow.

Understanding Object-Oriented Programming is also important because it helps organize code into clear, reusable structures, making programs easier to build, maintain, and scale as they grow in complexity. Object Oriented Programming is about writing code in an organized way so that it can be reused through the program. There are a few major concepts when it comes to OOP:

Object: Something that contains both data and actions. It is often used to represent real world things, car or a person for example.



Class: It's essentially a blue print to create objects. It defines the attributes and behaviors that an object will have. For example, Class: Vehicle, Object: Bicycle, Motorcycle, Car.



Inheritance: OOP uses inheritance to allow classes to share common features while still having their own separate differences. A main class provides shared properties and other classes build on it by adding unique features. The goal is to keep code organize  and reusable.


Interface: A method of allowing an user or a system communicate with another program/system. For example a TV remote and TV, or Windows which allows you to interact with your computer.


Package: A package is for organizing classes and interfaces. This allows large programs to be easier to manage. This is comparable to organizing documents from a folder into a specific cabinet.

Helpful Sources:

Installing Java and Intellij IDEA

Amit Thinks. (2025). How to install IntelliJ IDEA on Windows 11 (updated 2025) [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VRHSatyJfA

Java Getting Started Tutorial
Oracle. (n.d.). Getting started (The Java™ Tutorials). Oracle Corporation.

MDN Web Docs. (n.d.). Object-oriented programming. Mozilla Foundation. https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Learn_web_development/Extensions/Advanced_JavaScript_objects/Object-oriented_programming

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