What is the best career path for Java developers?

As a Java developer, your career path can lead you to be a Java architect or a team lead, depending on whether you prefer to remain focused on code or to focus on the big picture. As an early career Java developer, you will primarily write and debug code for applications, typically in collaboration with a team. Later in your career, you will l choose between becoming a Java architect or a team lead. An architect is focused on infrastructure and frontend development. A team lead guides and evaluates the development process, reviews code, and prepares documentation.