In-house or Freelance Java Dev? The Agony of Choice

Landing a work-from-home job can be a dream come true. But what’s the best home-based job? Being a developer!

And what’s the best programming language for this purpose? Well, things get trickier here. It’s one of the most debatable topics in the software engineering industry since every dev has their own opinion. It all depends on the coding style one prefers and the type of software development one enjoys. There are many worthy options, but to become a specialist who can choose between remote and office jobs and easily switch between them…

You Need to Learn a Programming Language with a Staying Power

If you have zero or minimal background and consider learning a programming language to boost your career opportunities and income, I recommend starting with Java. It’s a general-purpose, object-oriented language that has been around for more than 25 years. It remains one of the most in-demand programming languages, meaning it doesn’t seem to go anywhere soon. Also known as a WORA language (write once, run anywhere), it’s extremely popular owing to its platform independence, meaning you can execute Java source code on any platform. Not without reason, Java runs on around 7 billion different devices worldwide and is used by companies in tech, entertainment, government, finance, healthcare, education, insurance, defense, and many others.

Top Perks of Becoming a Java Developer

Java is currently one of the most popular languages in the world, so not surprisingly, there is a HUGE demand for Java developers. With that, Java devs are also very sought after, and they get some of the highest salaries in the industry. According to Payscale.com, the average wage in the U.S. for an entry-level Java developer makes $60,721 per year. After a few years of experience, you can expect to meet and exceed $100,000. So, making money might be an important reason.

Moreover, Java developers top the list of the careers with the lowest switch rate, meaning there is little stress and very few chances of burnout. This is primarily achieved owing to the diversity of non-boring tasks and projects. There is much more to Java developing than just coding. As a Java developer, you’ll get involved at every stage of the development process.

The other reason is strong collaboration and support. There are tons of different Java communities where you can ask for advice, share your experience, and speak to like-minded people.

Lastly, the Java developer job is not as scary as it may seem. Just anyone can become a successful Java dev without a need for a four-year degree in the field. Here, building a portfolio of your projects and having essential hard skills is the most important.

What Do Java Developers Do

In brief, Java developers are responsible for developing, designing, and managing Java-based apps and tools. These can be high-load systems, Android apps, web apps, software tools, games, etc. A Java developer is always behind all of them.

Of course, the role of a Java developer varies from company to company. Still, there are some basic things in common:

• Writing, modifying, and deploying a code;
• Programming, performing software analysis, testing, and debugging;
• Making software updates and improvements;
• Solving problems;
• Working in collaboration with an IT team.

New Reality: Working Remotely!

The coronavirus pandemic has permanently reshaped how, when, and where people work. And, not only workers but also employers found out that working from home has numerous benefits. For example, saving time and money, minimizing stress, increasing productivity, and even helping the environment by drastically reducing the number of commuters.

The fastest-growing career categories for home-based jobs are computers and IT alongside project management, sales, marketing, accounting, and finance. That’s why more and more Java developers switch from offices to freelance. Many companies do not always have full-time IT staff and prefer outsourcing their development tasks or hiring freelancers for small projects.

That just being said, there’s still a whole lot of businesses that appreciate in-house developers. So, let’s compare the advantages and disadvantages of being freelance or in-house Java developers.

In-house vs Freelance

Some of you may wonder “What’s the difference if both an in-house and a freelance developer works on a code?”. However, the question “whom to become?” may be trickier than it seems at first glance. The truth is different companies require different approaches, and what is right for one employer may be a waste of money and time for another. The same goes for in-house developers and freelancers that have different expectations from their occupation.

Perspectives

On freelance platforms, head hunters can find a wide range of experts with various skill levels acquired while performing different projects, whilst freelancers can discover tons of jobs according to their taste. Freelancers can do a broad range of tasks, from gigs to continuous cooperation, doing their job independently and advancing the skills they want.

As for in-house developers, the sphere of their expertise on a particular project is usually more specific. Moreover, they usually know how to work in a team, and it’s easier for them to create a bond with co-workers to make a perfect all-around product. Personal growth in the company is also what attracts most programmers when they choose in favor of in-house development.

Tasks

When it comes to tasks and responsibilities, freelancers don’t typically have any obligations to companies except for completing the project they get salary for. And once they are done, they can seek another one.

With in-house developers, the story is entirely different. They should maintain the product constantly: fix bugs, review what needs to be changed, update the product, and optimize it. In other words, freelancers and in-house Java developers are adopted for different types of companies.

For example, freelancers often work with growing startups, remote companies with the overheated specialists market, and temporary projects. In-house developers, in their turn, are the better match for software development companies, business-to-government companies, and companies with a regular workload.

Salaries

Typically, freelancers get a fixed salary or hourly rates. Yet, this salary will be lower compared to what in-house employees get. In-house developers also get paid vacations and other perks. But for most employers, sustaining in-house developers means more expenses (paying taxes, office rent, leaves, etc.), and that’s why more and more companies hire freelancers. Hence, more job offerings and less competition for freelancers.

However, you have higher chances to grow from a junior to a senior developer with a proven qualification when working continuously for some company or project. And with your personal growth, accordingly, your revenue will grow too.

Working Schedule

Whereas in-house specialists work for standard 6–8 hours per day, freelancers have a much more flexible schedule adopted for the projects they are working on. They can accept only the projects they like, which is a luxury in-house developers typically can’t afford. So, freelancing is a definite winner here.

As you see, both these types of occupations have their benefits and drawbacks. It’s entirely up to you whether to complete a one-time project or perform routine tasks and develop some serious software, work on business hours or stick to a free schedule. Yet, I know for sure that you’ll need a good knowledge of Java in both cases.

Where to Learn Java

Because Java is a very popular and demanded language, competition for Java dev posts can be fierce. You don’t necessarily need a BS degree in computer science, but a good knowledge of Java and a desire to work hard are essential. Here are some useful resources that can help you quickly learn Java:

• CodeGym. This online course for Java beginners doesn’t require you to wait a few weeks or even months for an offline group to form. The course includes 1200 engaging practical tasks (500+ hours in total) based on non-boring teaching techniques like gamification, storytelling, motivation. All of the tasks are verified by a virtual mentor that gives instant recommendations about your codes and helps you fix mistakes. As a nice touch, the CodeGym course is available both on desktop and mobile devices.

• Codecademy is another online interactive platform that offers low-cost and even some free coding classes in programming. It boasts a user-friendly web IDE where you can write code and check it immediately. The website is also full of useful hints to help you complete each task quicker.

• Udemy. It’s one more online platform with a great range of specific courses like Android, web, game development. It offers different video tutorials plus additional sources for reading. But what it lacks is an extensive range of practical tasks.

After completing the courses above, you’ll get the essential Java skills and, probably, even get your first self-made apps to build a dazzling portfolio.

Conclusion

No matter what path you go and what course you choose, mind that the more time you spend practicing, the better and more refined your Java programming skills will become. I mean, never stop learning new concepts to become one of the best Java developers. Also, remember that working as a freelancer or in-house developer isn’t always easy, but it’s always rewarding and exciting. The sky’s the limit when it comes to what you can create with Java. So, go that limit, my friend!

First published at Dev Genius.