Advanced Java is a Western Governors University course in the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science and related software programs.
WGU says it refines object-oriented programming expertise: you implement multithreaded, object-oriented code with Java features needed to meet business requirements, and decide how to deploy applications using cloud services. It carries 3 competency units and sits in the sixth term of the Computer Science standard plan.
WGU states that the course requires intermediate expertise in object-oriented programming and the Java language. Concurrency is the hard part: code can look correct and still fail intermittently, and deployment brings configuration problems that do not appear on your own machine.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | Western Governors University (WGU) |
| Course code | D387 |
| Level | Undergraduate |
| Program | B.S. Computer Science (also software engineering programs) |
| Credit | 3 competency units |
| Prior knowledge | Intermediate object-oriented programming and Java, per WGU |
| Typical work | Extending a Java application with threads and deploying it to the cloud |
What D387 Covers
| Competency (WGU wording, summarized) | What it means in practice |
|---|---|
| Write multithreaded, object-oriented code using Java frameworks | Running work on several threads safely inside a structured Java application |
| Determine how to deploy software applications using cloud services | Choosing and configuring a cloud service so the application runs outside your machine |
Behind these sit core object-oriented ideas such as classes, interfaces and encapsulation, plus Java's concurrency tools and the basics of building and packaging an application.
Key Concepts Explained
Threads and Shared State
A thread is an independent path of execution. Starting threads is easy; sharing data between them is where bugs appear. A race condition occurs when two threads change the same value at once and the result depends on timing.
Example: Two threads each add 1 to a shared counter 1,000 times. With a plain int the final value is often below 2,000 because updates overlap. Using synchronized or an AtomicInteger makes each update indivisible, so the total is reliably 2,000. Run it several times to show the fix is stable.
Managing Threads with Executors
Instead of creating threads by hand, Java provides executor services that manage a pool of threads. You submit tasks, then wait for completion and shut the pool down. This keeps code cleaner and avoids creating too many threads.
Deploying to a Cloud Service
Deployment means packaging the application, supplying its configuration (ports, environment values, credentials kept out of source code) and starting it on a managed service. Typical problems are missing configuration, wrong port settings and dependencies available locally but not in the build.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
Details depend on the course version, so follow your own instructions. Common patterns include the following.
| Task type | What it tests | How to approach it |
|---|---|---|
| Add concurrent behavior to an existing application | Correct use of threads and synchronisation | Identify shared data first, then protect it or avoid sharing |
| Meet a business requirement in code | Turning requirements into working features | Write down the requirement, implement it, and test with realistic input |
| Cloud deployment | Understanding of services and configuration | Record each step and setting so the process can be repeated |
| Supporting documentation | Explaining your choices | Keep notes on design decisions and test results as you work |
Where Students Get Stuck
- Race conditions that appear only sometimes. Repeat tests many times and look for shared mutable data.
- Deadlock. Two threads waiting on each other's locks. Acquire locks in a consistent order or reduce locking.
- Environment differences. A program that runs locally may fail in the cloud because of configuration.
- Weak object-oriented foundations. If classes and interfaces feel shaky, review them before adding concurrency.
Showing That Your Code Works
Concurrent code is hard to judge by reading alone, so evidence matters. Keep a short test log: what you ran, how many times, what you expected and what happened. If a result differed between runs, say how you changed the code and show the later runs.
For deployment, record the service you used, the settings you changed and the address where the application ran. A reader should be able to repeat your steps without guessing. Screenshots of a working deployment and of console output are far more convincing than a description.
Study Tips for D387
- Practice on tiny examples: a shared counter, a producer and consumer, a pool of tasks.
- Prefer higher-level tools such as executors over manual thread handling.
- Keep configuration outside the code so deployment is repeatable.
- Note every deployment step as you perform it.
- Test several times, not once, because concurrency bugs are intermittent.
How We Help with D387
Send the task description, your code, any error messages and the rubric. A Java developer can explain the concurrency design, show a worked example as a model, or review your code and deployment notes for issues.
GradeEssays is independent and not affiliated with WGU. Our help is for study and reference: learn the approach, then write and submit your own work under WGU's academic integrity policy. Orders are written from scratch, with free revisions within the scope of your original request and a full refund if late.
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Share the task, your code and the error output. We prepare an explained example you can study and learn from.
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Frequently Asked Questions
WGU says the course requires intermediate expertise in object-oriented programming and the Java language.
Writing multithreaded, object-oriented code using Java frameworks, and determining how to deploy applications using cloud services.
WGU lists it in the Computer Science degree and in software engineering programs. Check your own plan.
A race condition on shared data is the usual cause. Protect the data or redesign to avoid sharing it.
Yes. Deploying an application using cloud services is one of the two competencies.
No. We explain, review and provide models for study. You write and submit your own work.