• What is the need for another platform, i.e., JME?
  
• What is a Platform? Is the Java programming language different from the Java Platform?
  
• What is a configuration?
  
• What is the need for profiles in JME?
  
• What is the difference between CLDC and CDC??
  
• Are CVM and KVM different or do they refer to the same virtual machines?
  

• Should I go for SCJP5.0 certification or SCJP1.4 certification?
  
• SCJP or SCJA?
  
• Should I earn SCJA certification before earning the SCJP certification?
  
• I have an experience of 2 years of working with Java. Do I still need any other training to earn the SCJP certification?
  
• How much time do I need to prepare for this exam?
  
• Can I start my exam preparation with the mock exams?
  
• Will I really benefit with a home based learning program with a personal mentor?
  
• Should I really bother about getting certified?
  

Java Micro Edition is for appliances like cell phones, two-way pagers, smart cards, personal organizers, palmtops. These appliances have very limited resources as compared to standard desktop or server computers, for example, extremely limited memory, slow processors, small screen sizes.

All these devices also differ from each other with respect to the functionality that they offer and with respect to the environment and resources that they need. As a result, Sun proposed J2ME, which is a platform, a collection of technologies and specifications that are designed for different parts of the small device market.

Java Platform comprises of the following:

1. Java programming language
2. A Virtual Machine
3. Standard Application Programming Interfaces (APIs)

The Java Programming language is one of the components of the Java Platform.

A configuration is a complete Java runtime environment, consisting of Java virtual machine (VM), Native code to interface with the underlying system and set of core Java runtime classes.

In a JME configuration, the set of core classes is normally quite small. It should be enhanced with additional classes supplied by J2ME profiles.

Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC) is for devices with very constrained resources, like 160-512 KB of memory, limited bandwidth connectivity and 16-bit or 32-bit processor. CLDC does not supports full featured Java virtual machine. It does not supports floating point numbers, Thread groups, Object finalization, JNI, reflection, User class loaders.

Connected Device Configuration (CDC) is for devices with 2MB or more for Java platform, high bandwidth network connectivity and 32-bit processor. CDC supports a complete, full featured Java virtual machine.

Compact Virtual Machine (CVM) is a full-featured Java virtual machine designed specifically to run in less limited but still constrained environments. It is used in the reference implementations of the Connected Device Configuration (CDC) and the profiles that depend on the CDC.

Kilobyte Virtual Machine (KVM) is designed to run in limited constrained environments. It is included in the reference implementation of the Connected Limited Device Configuration (CLDC).

SCJP5.0 covers the new language features like generics, varags, Enums, enhanced for loop, static imports, autoboxing/ unboxing, which are not covered by SCJP 1.4. One of the most important benefits of earning a certification is that it enables you to learn and understand the topics it covers.

Since J2SE 6.0 has already been released by Sun, it makes sense to earn the SCJP 5.0 certification, rather than choosing SCJP 1.4 certification.

SCJA certification is for entry level Java programmers and SCJP certification is meant for experienced Java programmers.

SCJA certification includes just the basic Java, whereas SCJP expects you to have a comparatively better understanding of the Java language. For example, SCJA exam will require you to understand how to define classes/ interfaces/ packages, implement OO concepts in Java, understand data types in Java, use of operators, design an implement an algorithm in Java. In SCJP, you will be ALSO be required to work with advanced Java concepts, like usage of classes from Java Collection, inner classes, Threads, garbage collection.

The SCJA exam also covers an overview of the all the Java technologies (J2EE, J2SE, J2ME, JMI, JNDI, JMS, Web Services, EJB), and other technologies and concept like SMTP, RMI, JDBC, SQL, and RDBMS and basic UML. The SCJP exam does not covers these topics. SCJP tests an individual's knowledge of Java language .

The choice of certification depends on your goals and targets with respect to your career. If you plan to be a software developer SCJP is a better choice. SCJA is a better choice, if you are into managerial roles.

First of all, please note that SCJA is NOT a pre-requisite for the SCJP certification. You need not earn the SCJA certification to be eligible for earning the SCJP certification.

SCJP certification is meant for software developers (not for application architects). All the organisations will prefer a SCJP certified Java developer over a non-certified SCJP Java developer, who have similar IT skills and experience.

It is important to understand the difference between the practical knowledge of having worked with Java and the knowledge required to pass the SCJP exam. The creators of SCJP exam employ all sort of tricks to test a candidate's knowledge of Java and hence you need structured preparation to succeed in the certification exam.

The preparation time frame mainly depends on your experience with Java and the amount of time that you can spend to prepare yourself. Please contact our course advisors (advisors@ejavaguru.com) and they will be glad to request our mentors to evaluate your skills and work out a preparation plan, free of cost.

Before you start with the preparation, it is important to understand that you should be consistent with your exam preparation. You cannot study for a month and then re-start, after, say, a gap of another month.

If you are quite comfortable with the Java language features, then, yes, you can start your exam preparation with the SCJP mock exams. This will also help you to understand the types of questions that you can expect in the real SCJP exam.

However, if you do not have little/ any experience of working with Java, or if you are not quite comfortable with the language features of Java, we will not advice you to start with the SCJP mock exams. Starting with the SCJP mocks will confuse you further with the Java concepts.

From our experience, we can assure you that you will. Apart from the obvious benefits of cost effectiveness and self paced study, all your queries will be answered by the same personal mentor each time. This helps you to 'connect' to a real person, who is an experienced mentor. Your mentor will answer all your queries and motivate you to achieve your goal.

Yes, you should, because the employers bother about the certification of the employees.

SCJP certification is meant for software developers (not for application architects). All the organisations will prefer a SCJP certified Java developer over a non-certified SCJP Java developer, who have similar IT skills and experience.