title: What are the pitfalls of a Java noob?
body: <p>I've gone through a few Java questions on SO. And I must say the content here is <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/457822/what-are-the-things-java-got-right">pretty well written</a> and the Java guys on SO can really pump out the answers.</p>
  
  <p>But what I always found was Java answers for Java people. Which is great on its own, but I'm a Java noob. So I don't really care for the workings of <a href="https://stackoverflow.com/questions/15496/hidden-features-of-java/42686#42686">"Joint union in type parameter variance"</a>. It's probably handy down the line but for now.. it's not.</p>
  
  <p>So Java for a noob (coming from PHP and Python) what are the cheatcodes?</p>
  
  <p>If you could link to an SO answer (which is probably out there but I couldn't find) or write up what are the things Java does differently than other languages? (on a basic level)</p>
  
  <p>Some might call these the Java Gotchas (I couldn't find the official one though)</p>