There's a new, free, course from Microsoft where you learn how to build, migrate and scale Java applications on Azure.

Of course it's a promotional item attracting Java developers to the Azure platform but that doesn't take away from its general educational benefit.

Along with Azure you get to grips with Java's ecosystem by using  popular tools and frameworks like Spring boot, Tomcat and Gradle. You also get an insight into recent technologies.  For example in the unit "Types of Java applications" we learn the differences between Monolithic applications, Microservices, Batch jobs and Serverless apps.

In "Java technologies" we get a quick overview of the Spring Framework, Spring Boot, Spring Data and  how application servers like Tomcat and Weblogic are used when deploying Java applications. Of course, as the class is focused on Azure, we learn the various ways that you can deploy your app:

• Virtual machines
• Containers
• Azure App Service
• Azure Spring Cloud 
• Functions

In the very useful "Application deployment types" we get to see the advantages and disadvantages of each type of deployment, for instance with the topic "Virtual machines, containers, or platform as a service?". The tips pertain to the general argument and are not Azure-specific.

In "Deploy a Spring Boot app to Azure" we learn how to build a RESTful to-do list application that uses a MySQL database, as in Azure Database for MySQL, by first scaffolding the app with Spring Initializr, then actually coding it and finally deploying it through Maven on Azure App Service.

The lesson continues with the case of coding and deploying a Java web app with PrimeFaces.Then it tackles Spring Microservices, caching with Redis, NoSQL Cosmos DB, and finally a look at serverless Functions.

In detail the curriculum comprises:

• Introduction to Java on Azure will give you an overview of Java applications and related Azure services.
• Choose the right Azure service for deploying your Java application 
• Deploy a Spring Boot app to Azure is for Spring Boot developers who want to deploy their application to Azure.
• Deploy a Java web app to Azure is for Jakarta EE developers who want to deploy a JSF application to Azure.
• Deploy Spring microservices to Azure .
• Build a Java app with cloud-scale NoSQL Cosmos DB
• Publish a web app to Azure by using the Maven Plugin for Azure App Service focuses on the Maven Azure plugin
• Develop an App using the Maven Plugin for Azure Functions uses the Maven Azure plugin to create and deploy a Java serverless application, running on Azure Functions.

All-in-all I would recommend you take this course regardless of whether or not you are interested in Azure or not. It's quick with clearly defined steps, not complex, and contains information useful in the general sense of architecting, coding and deploying Java applications, although the focus is on the Azure platform. And it's easy to follow since you can get a free Azure account to try it out yourself.

In closing, it's noteworthy to mention that there's also an accompanying Youtube channel, Java on Azure, with related videos.

If you are look for a full, career-worthy Java class, I would advise you to enrol in Udacity's Java Web Developer Nanodegree.  I've recently graduated from this 4-month course and documented every step on the way in the 5-part The Insider's Guide to the Java Web Developer Nanodegree.  At the moment Udacity has a 50% discount by using coupon code NEWYEAR2021 at checkout.

More Information

Java on Azure

Java on Azure on Youtube

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