Java Briefing

Introduction

With so much hype and disinformation surrounding Java, it can be difficult to make decisions as to its place in a development strategy. This briefing provides an opportunity to understand the potential contribution of Java, its strengths and any weaknesses, the opportunities and the threats.

Duration and Construction

The briefing lasts one day and comprises a mixture of lecture, discussion and questions. There is a nominal programme of topics but we expect and welcome questions on any issues of particular interest.

Intended Audience

Participants will be software engineers or decision makers. They will be wanting to acquaint themselves with Java and possibly with object technology in general; and will be wanting to understand Java in comparision with other object technologies such as C++. They will also be wanting to know about the support infrastructure--networking, relational database connectivity, security, GUI, ...

Aims

• To appreciate why we have turned to objects, and what differentiates Java's object technology from others
• To appreciated Java's strengths, weaknesses and opportunities and threats
• To appreciate the unusual lengths Java has gone to for portability and standardization
• To survey Java's library support for networking, relational database connectivity, security, GUI, ...
• To understand the impact that the employment of objects might have on software engineering practices in general

Deliverables

• Lecture
• Facilitation of discussions
• Copies of the lecture slides
• Reference list of books and sources relevant to object technology

Numbers

We recommend that there are no more than 12 participants, with the best results usually obtained when there are at least 8 participants. It is possible, by negotiation and mutual agreement, for more than 12 participants to be present.

Contents

• Why objects?
• The Java programming langage
• Why Java? Why not C++ or Visual Basic or Smalltalk or Object Pascal (Delphi)?
• The positioning and philosophy of Java
• Java 2 (J2EE)
• Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats
• The aims of the core library packages
• The impact on development practices
• Java 5 (new Java language features, including generics and enums)

Site Requirements

• Data projector of at least 1024 x 768 resolution, and suitable screen
• White-board, preferably not doubling up as the OHP's screen; blackboard and chalk are acceptable
• Flip-chart and easel, with additional flip-chart paper
• It is best if the seating is not fixed. Auditorium style seating, for example, makes it difficult to switch from lecture to group work.

Contacting

Please contact John Deacon by telephone on +44 20 7498 3773; by fax on +44 20 7498 3747; by emailing  jdeacon@jdl.co.uk; or by visiting http://www.jdl.co.uk

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Last modified: Thursday, 08-Feb-2007.
Copyright © 2007 John Deacon. All rights reserved.