15+ Best Scala Courses & Certifications Online in 2023
Would you like to master Scala programming?
Well, there are multiple programming paradigms to consider, namely OOP, functional, and imperative, among others.
In order to be a competent programmer, you need to learn at least one language from each of these paradigms. This way you’ll become an all-around programmer who can work in various development environments.
By learning Scala, you can check two paradigms off your to-do list, as it is both an OOP and a functional programming language language that is loaded with all the features of a modern programming language.
Moreover, Scala is a vital building block for many popular frameworks today, namely Spark and Akka, in addition to being one of the top programming languages for data science.
However, if I’m being honest, Scala can have a steep learning curve if you don’t choose the best Scala tutorials to get you started. So to properly deconstruct Scala, it’s essential to take the right Scala courses.
In this article, I’ll guide you through the best Scala courses online for functional programming in 2023 to make you an expert Scala programmer.
Let’s get started.
1. Apache Spark with Scala: Hands On with Big Data! [Udemy]
If you’d like to use Scala with big data technologies like Spark, then this may be an excellent Scala learning resource for you.
After taking this course, you’ll be able to:
- Execute Apache Spark job optimization techniques, namely caching and partitioning. As a result, it’s easily the best Scala course online for you to learn big data analytics efficiency with Spark.
- Use Scala to write distributed code and develop Spark jobs quickly.
- Work with other Spark technologies, namely GraphX, Spark Streaming, and Spark SQL.
For Scala first-timers, it may be hard to keep up because this also extensively covers many features of important big data technologies like Spark and Hadoop. The upside is that it is one of the best Scala courses on Udemy for learning how to put Scala to work in an actual production environment.
2. Functional Programming in Scala Specialization [Coursera]
Scala enables distributed and parallel programming, which is key to creating quality software, and this 5-part specialization will enable you to take advantage of both.
This course will teach you how to:
- Combine Scala’s various concepts such as higher-order functions, pattern matching, and recursion to develop exclusively functional applications, while also leveraging amazing CI tools like Jenkins for efficient development.
- Create optimized programs via parallel Scala programming, making this the best Scala course on Coursera for high-performance software development.
- Use Scala programming with Apache Spark, enabling you to also leverage the benefits of functional programming for big data analysis.
Some of the assignments in this Scala online specialization, for example, the Barnes-Hut exercise, feel a little too long because there’s a lot to implement. That said, these comprehensive assignments are great for conceptual and practical understanding, provided they get the right amount of time and effort.
3. Scala Essential Training [LinkedIn Learning]
This Scala training covers the JVM and how to make the most of Scala’s interoperability with Java.
Through this course, you’ll learn how to:
- Memorize Scala syntax in concise steps for creating variables and loops, making this the best Scala course on LinkedIn Learning for beginners.
- Create a Scala REPL session inside the Scala Build Tool, and generally use this interpreter to test and practice your Scala code.
- Use Scala with the Akka toolkit to create distributed and concurrent applications that are tolerant to faults, making it one of the best Scala courses online for growing your portfolio and getting a developer job without experience.
Since the code isn’t prewritten, you may find that the live coding demonstrations are a little time-consuming. The upside to this teaching strategy is that it’s great for applied learning if you’d like to type as you go along.
4. Thinking Functionally in Scala [PluralSight]
For a simple breakdown of Scala’s potential in a big data environment, this Scala training is an excellent option.
By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Work with large datasets easily by writing idiomatic and clean Scala code in line with the functional paradigm.
- Develop chains of functional composition by using Scala’s simple higher-order methods, enabling you to harness the power of distributed computing more effectively.
- Use the various error-handling options at your disposal and know where to get language support when needed, making this one of the best Scala courses on PluralSight for Scala troubleshooting.
While you may have to maneuver around a few deprecated features, this is the best Scala course online, if you have no coding experience and wouldn’t want to get bogged down by advanced Scala concepts. It provides an excellent overview of core Scala features.
5. Scala & Functional Programming Essentials | Rock the JVM [Udemy]
Are you tired of outdated Scala tutorials?
Then you’ll find that this Scala 3 training offers you the latest language and software versions.
Through this course you’ll learn how to:
- Write applications from scratch using Scala 3, and put this knowledge to work in production environments, in tandem with other frameworks like Akka and Spark, that are trending among distributed computing experts.
- Contribute to Scala open-source projects and software development, making this the best Scala course on Udemy if you’d like to make a name for yourself in software development.
- Use pattern matching and higher-order functions, among other most widely used features of the language, even if you are coming from an Object Oriented Programming background.
While you don’t need to have any Scala experience to take this course, you still need a background in Programming. With the necessary coding fundamentals under your belt, it’s one of the best Scala courses online to get into advanced functional programming concepts.
6. Big Data Analysis with Scala and Spark [Coursera]
For working knowledge of Spark and Scala, this Scala online class may be an excellent fit for you.
This course will teach you how to:
- Work with data in relational databases, thanks to bonus content where you’ll also learn SQL programming, all in the same course.
- Deal with often overlooked challenges that arise in distributed systems such as latency. As a result, it is the best Scala course on Coursera to workaround big data streaming problems.
- Integrate Scala knowledge with various big data technologies and toolkits, namely Apache Spark, to improve efficiency and performance in data analytics.
While there are some typographical errors to watch out for in a few of the assignments, the instructor addresses some of these as she goes through the video so they shouldn’t get in the way.
Additionally, the discussion forum also addresses these problems comprehensively.
7. Scala Essential Training for Data Science [LinkedIn Learning]
Would you love to get into the data science profession?
Then it’s prudent to note that Scala is the de facto language for some of the best data science tools for big data analytics. This tutorial will teach you data science through Scala.
By taking this course, you’ll learn how to:
- Create custom functions and tap into the parallel processing potential of Scala.
- Leverage Scala for various Spark applications, which enables you to take full advantage of fast execution times because Spark is written in Scala.
- Use Scala with Microsoft SQL Server, which makes it the best Scala course on LinkedIn Learning for data scientists as you also get to work with a popular RDMS.
While the course does focus on Scala 2, which is a step below the latest version, it is still the best Scala course online for data scientists because the basic concepts covered easily translate to Scala 3.
8. Scala Fundamentals [PluralSight]
For a focus on the object-oriented parts of Scala, this is the right Scala training to show you the way.
Through this course, you’ll learn how to:
- Create stackable modifications for your own products after a good understanding of traits, and how to incorporate them into your development.
- Work with fold and reduce operations, among powerful techniques used for collections. As a result, it is the best Scala course on PluralSight to get a grounding in working with mutable and immutable data structures in Scala.
- Use implicit parameters in Scala to cut down on coding work by writing type-safe code to minimize conditions that could lead to errors.
This is an intensive Scala tutorial, which is largely down to a complex project where you’ll get to create a banking platform using Scala. However, it is one of the best Scala courses online for combining Scala elements into a real-world project.
9. Streaming Big Data with Spark Streaming and Scala – Hands On [Udemy]
This Scala tutorial will show you how to use Spark Streaming to better process big data. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Understand how Spark streaming works behind the scenes to power social media networks like Twitter. This is therefore the best Scala course online for understanding the real-life applications of Scala.
- Create Spark Streaming scripts and link to highly-scalable data sources, namely Kinesis and Flume.
- Integrating data streaming with machine learning, making this one of the best Scala courses on Udemy for creating self-adapting forecasting models.
You may need a quick introduction to Spark for this Scala training, so you may want to check out some of the best Apache Spark courses online to get you started.
However, there’s a quick Spark refresher included, so you can straight away get into this course even if the basics are a little rusty.
10. Functional Programming Principles in Scala [Coursera]
Would you like to write purely functional programs?
Then this is one of the best Scala courses on Coursera to master the necessary functional programming fundamentals.
After taking this course, you’ll be able to:
- Integrate Scala with OOP concepts, courtesy of carefully crafted exercises, where you get to create several functional programs.
- Create immutable Scala data structures, which are great because you don’t have to worry about unexpected object changes and subsequent errors.
- Use functional programming concepts that are not specific to Scala. This is therefore one of the best Scala courses online to become a polyglot programming expert.
Unfortunately, this isn’t a beginner-friendly course, and you’ll need at least a year of programming experience to qualify for this Scala training. With the right experience, the teaching style, where problems are decomposed into neat smaller functions, is an excellent way to master advanced Scala.
11. First Look: Scala 3 [LinkedIn Learning]
What does Scala 3 bring to the table?
This is the right Scala course to get you the answers. By the end of this course, you’ll be able to:
- Migrate from a Scala 2 foundation to Scala 3.0, thanks to an in-depth overview of the new indentation-based syntax.
- Leverage new features such as automatic rewrites to improve your coding productivity, making it one of the best Scala courses on LinkedIn Learning for unlocking the full potential of Scala 3.
- Work with enum in any code you’ll write in Scala 3 to create instances of an enumeration, with a focus on pattern matching.
Unfortunately, this course doesn’t cover Scala 2 features that have remained unchanged, so it may not be ideal if you’re totally new to Scala programming. On the bright side, it succinctly analyzes the differences so you can quickly be able to work on Scala 3 projects.
12. Scala: The Big Picture [PluralSight]
From functions and classes to pattern matching and collections, this Scala online class will help you explore the language from basic syntax to advanced concepts.
By taking this course, you’ll learn how to :
- Write Scala code after a detailed overview of the structure of Scala functions, and what makes the language tick.
- Implement Scala concurrency to execute tasks out of order without any consequences, enabling you to run multiple algorithms simultaneously.
- Deal with common errors that crop up when writing Scala code, making this one of the best Scala courses on PluralSight to learn Scala coding best practices.
While this Scala tutorial teaches Scala 2 which is one below the latest version, it is still the best Scala course online to master vital principles such as concurrent programming. Moreover, it breaks down core concepts in a beginner-friendly format.
13. Scala Programming For Beginners Complete Guide 2020 [Udemy]
If you’d like to use Scala for big data analytics, then this may be the Scala training to get you the necessary programming foundation.
After taking this course, you’ll be able to:
- Understand OOP principles such as abstract classes and inheritance, which help you also get a head start on learning some of the best programming languages for web development.
- Work with Scala arrays and tuples to manipulate big data, making this one of the best Scala courses online if you’re keen on getting into a data science role today.
- Use recursive functions in Scala for purely functional programming, which makes testing and debugging easier.
While there are a few typing errors to be wary of in some of the lesson summaries, this remains the best Scala course on Udemy if you’re a complete beginner. That’s because it starts with very basic Scala setups that accommodate all learning levels.
14. Learn Object-Oriented Programming with Scala [Coursera]
Scala is both a functional and object-oriented programming language, which makes this Scala tutorial excellent for uncovering vital OOP pillars.
Through this Scala course, you’ll learn how to:
- Use various OOP principles to efficiently write Scala code. You’ll also be able to apply these concepts across other OOP languages such as Python, and even Java.
- Modify a skeleton application through Scala programming, and turn it into a space simulation game. This is therefore one of the best Scala courses on Coursera if you’d like to get started with app development in a short amount of time.
- Optimize existing applications to boost performance using IntelliJ IDEA, and also scale to include more features.
Being a beginner-friendly and short class, you may not get into using Scala for advanced programming and developing software from scratch. On the bright side, it is the best Scala course online to get you started with basic principles for both functional and object-oriented programming.
15. Learning JVM Languages: JVM, Java, Scala [LinkedIn Learning]
If you’d like to write Java applications using the Scala language, then this is a great option to get you started.
This course will teach you how to:
- Create a simple web service, by implementing classes after picking up Java coding skills. This consequently makes it one of the best Scala courses on LinkedIn Learning for side-learning Java.
- Understand the differences between Scala and Java, and know when to use each one when writing programs for JVM.
- Use the Scala Build Tool to build Java and Scala projects. You’ll also learn how to write unit tests via the Scala test library.
However, the discussion forum isn’t very active so you may have to rely on getting assistance from third-party sources. On the other hand, this Scala course exhaustively covers the content in detailed step-by-by procedures, so there’s little to worry about in terms of clarity and errors.
Conclusion
So what Scala training would be the right fit for you?
If you have some programming experience, even if not in Scala specifically, I’d recommend you check out the Apache Spark with Scala: Hands-On with Big Data! course on Udemy.
With a little scripting experience, it’s one of the best Scala courses online for functional programming in 2023, especially if you’d like to jump into advanced data analytics techniques.
On the flip side, if you’re totally new to not only Scala but programming in general, then you may be best served by the Scala Essential Training on LinkedIn Learning.
This Scala course will show you all you need to know about Scala, including installation, without skipping any important baby steps.
