Java and Python are the two most commonly used programming languages in Amazon Web Services (AWS). If you’re at the beginning of your journey as a cloud professional, you may be wondering what coding experience you’ll need to break into the ecosystem. In this handy guide, we’ll talk you through the roles that require Java and Python, how they are used in AWS, and which coding language you should focus on in order to get started in an amazing career in the cloud.
Do all AWS roles require coding experience?
Just to make it clear, not all roles within AWS require coding.
Almost one-third of all cloud applications are run on AWS, so you’re joining a huge ecosystem with a wide variety of skills required. If you don’t have any experience with programming, don’t let that put you off cross-training in AWS—you could still become a sought-after AWS cloud specialist and land some of the highest-paying jobs in tech (especially if you cross-train with us).
In this post, we’ll only be looking at the AWS roles that do require coding. We’ll explore how each coding language is used within AWS, before comparing Java vs Python in the showdown of the century. If you want to find out who snatches victory, keep rreading!
What AWS roles require Java and Python?
According to the most comprehensive AWS market trend and salary playbook, the Jefferson Frank Careers and Hiring Guide, if you’re looking to go into DevOps or Big Data then Python, Java, and Javascript are among the top 10 skills to have on your resume. The AWS jobs that would use Java and Python the most are, of course, roles that involve elements of coding and programming. If you know both already then congratulations—you’re officially a tech genius! But you only really need to know one of these programming languages to work in AWS, and not necessarily to an expert level either.
However, if you are an expert hard-core coder then all the more power to you. There are plenty of job opportunities that require the use of traditional code to build new AWS apps. If you’re a bit of a coding beast, you could consider joining AWS Service Teams or becoming an AWS Product Developer. Other roles include AWS Developer and AWS DevOps Engineer. If you’re a Java evangelist, then, by learning how to use popular AWS tools and adding a few AWS certifications to your arsenal, you could specialize as an AWS Java Developer.
For those who use a programming language day-to-day, but wouldn’t go as far as calling themselves hard-core coders, there are roles that involve some coding experience in order to change or enhance an existing AWS service. These include AWS Solutions Architect, AWS DevOps Admin, AWS Cloud Systems Administrator, and AWS Security Engineer, among others.
What is Java and how is it used in AWS?
Invented way back in 1991 by James Gosling and Sun Microsystems, Java is still as popular as ever today. Thanks to its many development applications, including online forms, online banking and mobile shopping, it’s pretty much transformed the way we eat, shop, and breathe.
What is Java?
If you have an existing background in tech, you might already be aware that Java is an object-oriented, class-based, high-level programming language based on C and C++, though much more improved and simplified. You might also know that Java is used when developing Android mobile apps, desktop and web applications, big data processing, as well as distributed and enterprise software. Because it’s free and open-source, and doesn’t involve licensing fees, Java is also used by game developers who are looking to flex their muscles. Just think–if it wasn’t for Java, we may never have had Minecraft, Contra, or The Sims 3 (and what a sad, lonely world that would have been).
What you may not know, however, is that Java’s original name was ‘Oak.’ It then went through several transformations, including ‘Green’ and (god-only-knows why) ‘Java Coffee’ (after a blend of Indonesian coffee, apparently). After some trial-and-error, it finally settled on the name we all now recognize and love. However, staying true to its roots, Java has kept the distinct coffee cup symbol in its logo.
Another fun #TechTrivia fact to boast about to your colleagues in the ‘Nice Things’ channel in your Teams or Slack, is that Java is also used when developing a host of other electronic devices and Internet of Things (IoT) applications, including television sets, washing machines, air conditioners, and more. If you want to see a Java-powered toaster that can sear today’s weather forecast on your toast, head straight over here.
Although it’s still high-level, it’s relatively easy to read and understand. Gosling’s motto ‘Write one, use anywhere’ might have something to do with why it’s one of the most in-demand programming languages in the tech industry today. And what would the tech industry be without the cloud? Naturally, the list of the gazillion applications for Java has to include cloud-based services and applications. For example, lots of tech companies choose to use Java when developing their SaaS, IaaS, and PaaS services. So, if you’re thinking about becoming an AWS cloud superstar, then it’s a good idea to get familiar with Java.
How is Java used in AWS applications?
A huge number of open-source big data offerings are written using the Java programming language. It’s massively popular with AWS customers and cloud specialists because it’s just so easy to write, compile, debug and learn. Using Java, developers can create both modular programs and reusable code meaning you can deploy your existing Java codes using applications like AWS Elastic Beanstalk. Definitely check out AWS Lambda as well.
AWS SDK for Java
AWS SDK massively simplifies the use of AWS Services, which include Java applications that work with Amazon S3, Amazon EC2 and Amazon SimpleDB, among many others. AWS SDK does this by providing a set of libraries that are consistent and well-known for Java developers. It’s also useful when it comes to API lifecycle consideration, in particular for credential management, data marshaling, serialization, and retries. What’s more, the AWS SDK for Java also helps with simplified development by supporting higher–level abstractions. AWS recently completed a major rewrite of the original SDK for Java 1.x code to add shiny new features that had been frequently requested within the AWS ecosystem. So, if you’re just starting out with AWS SDK for Java, make sure that you use the SDK for Java 2.x version.
AWS SDK for JavaScript
While Java ensures that all the cogs are working on the back end, JavaScript is all about creating that nicely packaged, shiny front-of-house that end users see. It works in the same way as SDK for Java, meaning that AWS SDK for JavaScript works with three runtimes: JavaScript for a browser, React Native for mobile development, and Node.js for the server. It supports cross-runtime which means that you can run a package on various browsers, React-Native, and even Node.js without having to change the code.
Free AWS Java and JavaScipt training resources
We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again – if you’re serious about cross-training to become an AWS cloud superstar, you should seriously consider cross-training with Revolent. Seriously. But in the meantime, if you’re after a flavour of the AWS industry, check out these free AWS Java learning resources:
- Building modern Java applications on AWS (a free, six–week course offered by Coursera to give you foundational knowledge of how AWS integrates with Java and how you can build with it)
- AWS-focused open-source Java libraries and JavaScript libraries on GitHub
- Intro to Java on AWS by AWS Online Tech Talks
What is Python and how is it used in AWS?
Also created back in 1991 by Guido van Rossum, Python is a multi-purpose language that’s taken the world by storm. While the name will probably make you think of the family of snakes native to Asia, Africa, and Australia, the name for this programming language actually comes from the BBC comedy series Monty Python’s Flying Circus (and if you haven’t got round to watching this comedy gem yet, we strongly recommend that you add it as a high priority action point to your cross-training plan).
What is Python?
Because of how easy it is to learn Python compared to other high-level programming languages, it’s used by people from all walks of life, from software engineers to mathematicians, scientists, accountants and kids. They use it for things like data analysis, data visualization, AI and machine learning, to make their life easier with automation and to have fun. And it goes without saying that Python is also used for building web, mobile and desktop applications, and in software testing. As well as being easy to learn, with Python you need to write less lines of code to solve relatively complex problems, which explains why it’s such an attractive coding solution for so many individuals.
How is Python used in AWS applications?
According to the aforementioned Jefferson Frank AWS Careers and Hiring Guide, Python is the language to learn if want to land a role in DevOps or Big Data. If your role involves developing big data platforms, you’ll definitely need to script, and Python is a top choice for that. It works really well with AWS Lambda environments—the spin-up times are simply dreamy, and there’s a vast Python-themed library of third-party modules that help to ease the interaction with other platforms and languages. It’s also the go-to language for text analytics and hugely helpful when building big data support. Because Python as a coding language is so clean and easy to learn, the added benefit of using it is that it can help avoid creating overly complex architecture.
AWS boto3 for Python
The go-to SDK for Python is called boto3. The purpose of this SDK is to help you easily integrate any Python application, script, or library you’ve created with popular AWS services. Which means you can use anything you code with Python with Amazon S3, Amazon EC2, Amazon DynamoDB, and numerous other AWS services. Similarly to Java, you’ll also want to check out AWS Lambda.
Free AWS Python training resources
If you’re thinking of cross-training into AWS to bring home some serious bacon, check out our fully funded two-year AWS training program, which comes complete with AWS authorized certs and a work placement at a global brand. Meanwhile, if you do wish to go it alone, here are three free AWS Python learning resources that will help get you started:
- This free six-week training course Building modern Python applications on AWS by Coursera will help you get to grips with building greenfield serverless backend on AWS using the industry best practices.
- Materials on boto 3 on GitHub
- This hour-long AWS boto3 Python Crash Course by KGP talkie
Java vs. Python: What's better for AWS?
And now for the moment you’ve been patiently waiting for–the battle of the tech century, Java vs Python.
Both Java and Python are widely used across AWS applications, so whichever one you choose to focus on, you’ll be in for the win. What’s more, both programming languages have a huge community of highly motivated individuals, ready to jump in and help if you run into any coding issues, as well as a huge ecosystem of tools, frameworks and libraries that you can use both generally and in AWS in particular.
Since you only need one high-level programming language, here’s a list of the pros and cons for each, to help you decide which one to either learn or continue developing your skills in.
Java pros and cons
If you’re already using it – carry on! This cherished coding language that has seen the world through the early days of the internet isn’t going to retire anytime soon. It also depends what you’ll be building or enhancing with your code. For example, if you’re going to be working predominantly on mobile applications, then you may be better off sticking with Java and JavaScript.
Pros
- Provides higher and more predictive performance than any other programming language
- Second best skill for AWS roles in DevOps or Big Data (with JavaScript ranked as 4)
- Great with AWS Lambda because of multi-thread concurrency and platform independence, not to mention data security and object-orientation
- Wide range of tooling support, including IntelliJ IDEA, Mave, Gradle and Eclipse
Cons
- Not as fast as C or C++
- It’s a single-paradigm language
- Clunky memory management–when the garbage collector is running in Java, it will affect the performance of the application. Sounds like Java could learn a thing or two from the much more efficient real-life garbage collectors!
Python pros and cons
The fact that even kids use Python goes to show that it’s hands-down the best choice for beginners, as well as those who like to see efficiency and a bit of zen in their code.
Pros
- Top skill for AWS roles in DevOps or Big Data
- Simple, clean and powerful coding syntax, which allows you to write fewer lines of code
- Great with AWS Lambda because of multi-thread concurrency, platform independence, not to mention data security and object-orientation
- Wide range of tooling support, including IntelliJ IDEA, Mave, Gradle and Eclipse
- Cross-platform, allowing you to run your Python applications on a range of platforms, including Apple Mac, Windows and Linux, as well as different browsers
- Unmatched speed when it comes to AWS spinning containers—Python is about 100x faster than Java or C#
Cons
- Not as fast as some other programming languages
- Due to the Global Interpreter Lock, also known as GIL, threading isn’t the best in Python since you can only execute one thread at any one time
- Since Python is not a native language for the mobile environment, some consider it weak for this purpose; what’s more, Android and iOS haven’t given their seal of approval to Python
- Super-high memory consumption means it may not be your best bet for tasks that are memory-intensive; for example, it could cause problems when a large number of objects are being used in your RAM
And the winner is...
Not to sound like a cop-out if you’ve waited this long to find out which coding language takes the title –but, really, everyone’s a winner when using either Java or Python, because AWS is designed to support both coding languages. It all depends on what you find easier to use, and what you’ll be doing with code day-to-day. Whether you’re an expert coder or just starting out, there’s a ton of roles in AWS, and you’re sure to find one that suits your wants, experience level and career aspirations. And if this has convinced you that you have the skills (or want to learn them) to become a highly paid and sought-after AWS cloud specialist, then we look forward to hearing from you!
Start an incredible AWS cloud career with Revolent.
Revolent Group is a Tenth Revolution Group company. The AWS partnership for Revolent is managed through Jefferson Frank, a Tenth Revolution Group company.
