Eugen Cojocaru

Retrospectiva Sibiu JUG - 2011

In spiritul perioadei in care ne aflam, m-am surprins facand involuntar o retrospectiva in plan personal si profesional a evenimentelor anului ce sta se incheie, iar printre altele, Java User Group Sibiu reprezinta unul dintre capitolele foarte importante in aceasta "carte". Fara sa intru foarte mult in detalii, ma opresc o clipa la acest capitol pentru ca sunt cateva aspecte ce merita a fi subliniate in retrospectiva anului 2011.

Aproape de jumatatea anului lua fiinta primul grup din Sibiu afiliat comunitatii internationale java.net si al treilea de acest tip din Romania. S-a incheiat rapid primul parteneriat cu Facultatea de Stiinte din cadrul Universitatii Lucian Blaga si s-a inceput oficial activitatea grupului. A urmat apoi parteneriatul cu Oracle iar apogeul primelor intalniri a fost atins odata cu evenimentul lansarii Java 7, prezentare sustinuta de Dalibor Topic, F/OSS Oracle Java Ambassador.

S-au incheiat ulterior noi parteneriate cu Pentalog, JRebel, IntelliJ IDEA si PeopleCentric iar numarul membrilor a crescut. Progresul a devenit vizibil iar interesul general fata de acest grup si activitatile desfasurate este in continua crestere. Construim pas cu pas imaginea unui grup de profesionisti ce formeaza o comunitate in care primesc si ofera cunostinte din domeniul tehnologiilor Java, iar planurile pentru perioada urmatoare au, printre altele, ca obiectiv viitorul comunitatii Java si anume noile generatii de specialisti - investitia in tinerii pasionati de acest limbaj.

Multumesc tuturor partenerilor nostrii pentru support-ul oferit, speaker-ilor care au acceptat invitatia de a organiza prezentari la evenimentele sutinute de grupul nostru.(Dalibor Topic, Matei Albu, Laurentiu Ciovica, Ion Parau si Bogdan Minciu), multumesc Ruxandra Radulescu si nu in ultimul rand, in mod special lui Andrei Moiceanu pentru suportul si ajutorul oferit.

Sibiu Java User Group - "Research, share, evolve..."

Sibiu JUG - Code Quality && CI best practices

In order to avoid issues that can affect the long-term viability of a software architecture, code quality is one of the most important aspect to keep an eye on. Also the quality control of a software project can be applied using Continuous Integration systems. Together with a revision control system it frequently integrates new or modified source code with the existing code repository and builds it.

This and much more from this area was the subject of the main presentation from the last Java User Group Sibiu seminar in 2011. The guest and speaker for this event was Bogdan Minciu, a young but experienced Java architect from Pentalog. Based on the complexity of a real project he is working on, Bogdan created a very good presentation about code quality and Continuous Integration with all needed details from installation steps to usage and best practices.

The quality of the shared knowledge was very appreciated by the attendance. I received only positive feedback and I hope Bogdan will accept our group invitation again for future events.

Presentation can be downloaded from here and event photos on Sibiu JUG Facebook page.

To Git, or not to Git: that is the question...

Git is...

... a free & open source, distributed version control system designed to handle everything from small to very large projects with speed and efficiency.

Every Git clone is a full-fledged repository with complete history and full revision tracking capabilities, not dependent on network access or a central server. Branching and merging are fast and easy to do.

Git is used for version control of files, much like tools such as Mercurial, Bazaar, Subversion, CVS, Perforce, and Team Foundation Server. - http://git-scm.com/

Incep cu o preluare de pe site-ul oficial Git ca sa evit o introducere in care as spune aproximativ aceleas lucruri.
Sisteme version control sunt multe, iar pana la aparitia Git suprematia a fost detinuta dupa parerea mea de SVN si CVS. Odata cu Git insa, am observat ca suprematia existenta incepe sa fie amenintata iar in urma unui studiu am observat si motivele. Git vine cu cateva lucruri noi unde poate cel mai mare impact il are faptul ca este un sistem distribuit si nu centralizat (SVN,CVS...etc). Nu este nici primul si poate nici ultimul sistem distribuit de versionare insa in afara celorlalte avntaje cu care vine mai are ceva ce il recomanda in ochii utilizatorilor: este usor de inteles si utilizat. Bineinteles ca nu toate proiectele au nevoie de un astfel de sistem si vor exista intotdeauna contestatari, mai mult decat atat, si eu am fost unul dintre sceptici initial, dar trebuie sa privim sistemul cat se poate de obiectiv si concluzia la care am ajuns este ca Git are potentialul sa ajunga rapid unul dintre cele mai utilizate sisteme de versionare, daca nu chiar primul intr-un astfel de top. 

Pentru a afla mai multe detalii despre acest sistem, l-am ales ca tema pentru Seminarul 5 organizat de Java User Group Sibiu, pentru a-l observa in actiune si pentru a ne fi prezentat de cineva care il foloseste in mod frecvent la proiecte. De ce Git la JUG? Pentru ca, desi nu este o tehnologie exclusiv Java, consider ca un astfel de sistem se pliaza oricarui domeniu IT, fie ca discutam de C#, C++ sau Java. Feedback-ul venit in urma prezentarii Git a fost unul 100% pozitiv, toti fiind incantati de acest produs si de modul in care poate fi intergrat.

Prezentarea Git realizata la seminar este disponibila pentru download la sectiunea Download a site-ului Sibiu JUG iar fotografii de la eveniment pot fi vizualizate in JUG Picasa Album.

ORACLE Developer Day, Cluj-Napoca 2011

Miercuri,19 Octombrie 2010, Oracle a organizat in Cluj un eveniment special destinat software developerilor - programatori sau manageri deopotriva, eveniment la care, printre alte subiecte, Java EE6 - The Programming Model sau Modern, Lightweight Development and Java EE 6 si Oracle ADF mi-au suscitat rapid interesul. Nu puteam rata un astfel de eveniment si desi incepea in jurul orei 9 iar Sibiul se afla la 2,5 ore distanta de mers cu masina, am mers nerbdator sa primesc o actualizare de cunostinte.

Evenimentul s-a desfasurat pe parcursul a 7 ore cu pauza de pranz si pauza intermediara, iar organizarea a fost ireprosabila (de altfel de asteptat de la Oracle). Am primit cu interes detalii despre noile inovatii in Java EE, sau noile compatibilitati ale celor mai importante IDE-uri cu tehnologiile Java. Concluzia personala de la finalul evenimentului a fost ca speaker-ii si prezentarile s-au ridicat la inaltimea asteptarilor, calitatea informatiei transmise si a modului de abordare fiind una foarte buna. Asa cum scriam astazi intr-un email de feedback, consider ca evenimentul si-a atins obiectivul, il consider unul foarte util, si felicit Oracle pentru organizare.


Nu am putut sa trec cu vederea faptul ca foarte multi participanti la acest eveniment faceau parte din comunitatea locala Transylvania JUG, lucru care m-a bucurat foarte mult in prespectiva faptului ca incep sa se vada rezultatele influentei acestui grup si implicit a muncii celor care il conduc, asupra developer-ilor Java din Cluj. Este o adevarata satisfactie sa vezi ca obiectivul principal al JUG a fost atins, acela de a aduce impreuna specialisti Java si de a-i orienta catre dezvoltare profesionala, catre cercetare si partajare a cunostintelor si experientei lor. Nu am avut inca placerea sa ii cunosc personal pe cei care conduc acest grup, dar doresc sa ii felicit pentru modul in care o fac, pentru pasiunea de care dau dovada si pentru rezultatele pe care le au. Sunt  deasemenea mandru ca la Sibiu, comunitatea locala Sibiu JUG progreseaza, are tot mai multi membrii interesati de research si dezvoltare iar satisfactia personala este ca alaturi de alte comunitati de profil, precum cea din Cluj, punem cu totii umarul la comunitatea Java din Romania si cea internationala iar odata cu cresterea comunitatii, ne dezvoltam cu totii profesional... sunt multe eforturi la mijloc, dar cand privesti rezultatele, intotdeauna te feliciti ca faci asta...

JRebel se alatura sponsorilor Java User Grup Sibiu

Java User Group Sibiu continua actiunea de asociere cu grupuri si companii de prestigiu din lumea IT. Astfel, dupa parteneriatul cu Oracle si Pentalog Sibiu, JRebel s-a alaturat grupului de sponsori. Incepand cu luna Noiembrie, Java User Group Sibiu va avea posibilitatea sa ofere membrilor sai si speaker-ilor licente pentru produsele JRebel.

Relatiile stabilite vin sa confirme profesionalismul grupului si a activitatilor desfasurate in cadrul acestuia. Se contureaza imaginea unui grup solid, care ofera mediul si conditiile potrivite pasionatilor R&D.

Preconizez o crestere a relatiilor de parteneriat si sponsorizare in lunile urmatoare din evidentul motiv ca toti cei implicati au in urma acestei relatii doar avantaje. Dezvoltarea continua si actualizarea cunostintelor coroborata cu evenimente la care participa specialisti din domeniul IT si speakeri consacrati ridica nivelul comunitatii Java din Sibiu si implicit al membrilor sai. Asocierea companiilor IT cu astfel de evenimente evidentiaza interesul pentru inovatie si dezvoltare, primesc un plus de promovare si poate cel mai important aspect este reprezentat de dezvoltarea angajatilor prin incurajarea lor sa devina membrii JUG. Dezvoltarea profesionala a angajatilor, promovarea in cadrul unei comunitati din domeniu si suportul pentru inovatie reprezinta una dintre cele mai bune modalitati de a pastra un nivel ridicat de profesionalism si de a afisa aceasta imagine unui public "target".

Astept cu interes noi contacte cu grupuri si companii care vad in dezvoltare si promovare una dintre cele mai inteligente investitii...

Java 7 Launch

If we have to do a commercial with it, inspired by a well-known one, it will be like: "Java...probably the best programming language in the world."

Java reached to the 7'th version in 2011, Java User Group Sibiu couldn't missed it and prepared a presentation as special as the event itself on Monday, September 5, 2011. Dalibor Topic, Java F/OSS Ambassador at Oracle was the special guest for this event and made us the official presentation of Java 7 launch.

Few details about Dalibor, he lives in Hamburg, Germany, and works as Java F/OSS Ambassador for Oracle. He joined the OpenJDK project in order to help make it a successful open source project, and stayed for anchoring Java in Linux distributions, and as an all around Java F/OSS community guy. He joined the Java strategy team at Oracle to help provide community feedback into the long-term strategy planning.

Java 7 launch ended as being a great event, with positive feedback from both sides. Dalibor liked Sibiu JUG and was pleasantly impressed by our evolution and on the other side, the attendees gave positive feedback, everybody considering this event as a very good and useful one.

Photos from the event can be found on Sibiu JUG Picasa Album.

Many thanks to our partners who have helped us in organizing this event: Oracle, Pentalog and Faculty of Science (ULBS).

Java User Group Sibiu - Seminar 2

Monday, 1'st of August, 2011, 19:00 h, Java User Group Sibiu organized Seminar no. 2. The location was the same, Lucian Blaga University, Faculty of Science, and the main event was the presentation made by Laurentiu Ciovica, about Rich Internet Applications development with JavaFX.

I was glad to notice that the attendees are becoming more and more involved in this activity and I'm waiting for others to come and join us.

One more thing to mention, on this meeting, one of the attendees was someone from Oracle, visiting us, and...a partnership is on the role.(More about this in the appropriate time)

Research, share, evolve...

Un tren numit... "JUG Sibiu"

Luni, 4 Iulie 2011, a avut loc prima intalnire Java User Group Sibiu. Am ramas placut impresionat de interesul manifestat in randul pasionatilor Java desi mediatizarea evenimentului nu a fost nici pe departe una excesiva. Urmand politica pasilor marunti dar siguri, am creat si dezvoltat JUG Sibiu ca un grup profesionist cu obiectiv principal progresul profesional (vad ca si rimeaza :) ). Ma bucur sa concluzionez ca ideea de a reuni pasionati Java in vederea realizarii schimbului de experienta a reusit, iar feedback-ul celor prezenti a fost 100% pozitiv.

Analogia facuta intre JUG Sibiu si un tren a luat forma gandindu-ma ca asemeni unui tren care dupa ce pleaca din gara accelereaza usor, dar sigur, catre viteza maxima, JUG Sibiu a pornit la drum impreuna cu profesionistii pe care ii reuneste si progreseaza pas cu pas, dezvoltandu-se treptat. Fiecare pas va aduce un plus in dezvoltarea grupului, iar componentii sai vor avea unde sa isi dezvolte pasiunea care ii uneste: Tehnologia Java.

"Migrating Applications to IPv6" by Dan York (O'Reilly review)

Migrating Applications to IPv6
Dan York
O'Reilly Media, 2011
50 pages

It is a fact that Internet growth is on an ascendent slope and IPv4 (Internet Protocol version 4) limits will soon be reached. Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) developed IPv6 a new Internet Layer protocol for packet-switched inter-networking that will allow much more addresses. Scope of this book is to explore the changes that needs to be adapted in order to migrate existing applications to IPv6 and the implications that will occur when the Internet protocol will change.

The author's purpose is not to present all solutions but rather the questions that should be asked. This is actually an initial overview on possible issues that can be encountered in applications migration process and the author's desire is to make updates of the book in time, while receiving feedback with new identified issues.

From Chapter 1 to Chapter 4, possible issues are presented and additional changes that should be applied on the existing applications(desktop and server based). IPv6 migration will have multiple consequences and the book is suggesting some possible situations that the reader has to consider for the adaptation process. Front-end and back-end critical possible changes are analyzed with focus on GUI, DNS, API and IP addresses storage. Transport layer (Chapter 5) was specifically addressed "for those of you who do need to work at the network layer". This contains information about messages transport from and to the applications, dual stack support and security issues. The migration process will also involve changes on applications documentation, training or testing operations and Chapter 6 suggests what should be reviewed in these areas. Other resources and next steps to be followed related to IPv6 migration are described in the last chapter.

The book doesn't have many illustrations and sources, as it is a short one, but still, an index would have been useful.

This is just the first edition of the book and it is actually a collection of suggestions organized in categories, of what to consider when you will be involved in applications migration process, though many of the suggestions should be already known by a professional. It is also a fairly good introduction on IPv6 for the people who never studied about it yet, but real examples are lacking in this version and you should probably wait for an updated edition if you are interested in real issues and fixes.

You can purchase the book from O’Reilly here.

"Learning Android" by Marko Gargenta (O’Reilly review)

Learning Android
Building Applications for the Android Market
Marko Gargenta
O'Reilly Media, 2011
268 pages
978-1-449-39050-1

This book's scope is to offer an overview of Android platform and set fundamental knowledge in order to start developing platform oriented applications. The author describe this book as being the result of observations during multiple training courses and a "perfect way to master the fundamentals".

Author's experience in training people makes him one of the most recomanded person to create a book like this. His approach using the step by syep presentation and examples is the perfect way to achieve the main objective: learn how to build applications for Android market.

Along with the details regarding Android platform and how to build applications for it, one of the book's objective is to follow the development of a social networking application (Twitter like). The development is also made step by step creating new modules and features in each chapter. Source code pieces are well highlighted, followed by explanations and together with screenshots and diagrams facilitates a lot the study process and also the development of the training application. The way this book "is gluing" the technical parts without missing modules from the software development cycle, allows the reader to build an Android application from scratch to it's final form.

The author makes a perfect transition from basic to more complex details and when you will finish the book you will realize that you have built an Android application and you have learned the fundamentals of developing applications for Android market without much effort.

As an assessment of the book place in the literature of its subject, I consider this book to be among best publications in it's category for the targeted public. The information is structured in a way that makes the learning process much easier than other similar books.

From the Java developer's point of view, I think the content of the book is easy to understand and I recommend it to everyone who would like to study the fundamentals of Android application development. Even that for a good understanding, the author is asking at least oriented programming skills, I believe that this should be used by intermediate developers in order to understand completely it's content.

You can purchase the book from O’Reilly here.

Java User Group Sibiu - research, share, evolve...

In ideea de a forma o comunitate Java locala, care sa reuneasca profesionisti si nu numai, impreuna cu alti pasionati Java, am pus bazele unui "Java User Group" in Sibiu (http://sibiujug.java.net/) , afiliat comunitatii JUG internationale. Informatii generale despre Java User Group pot fi obtinute de pe site-ul comunitatii internationale: http://www.java.net/jugs/java-user-groups

Scopul grupului este de a incuraja membrii sai si comunitatea locala de dezvoltatori Java in cresterea profesionala prin organizarea de conferinte, simpozioane, prezentari, discutii despre experiente comune din lumea Java. La acest grup pot adera atat profesionisti Java, reprezentanti ai companiilor de profil, cat si cadre universitare, studenti sau persoane interesate de acest domeniu desi practica alta profesie.

Activitatea JUG Sibiu presupune intalniri regulate, de tip "seminar", (probabil 1-2 pe luna) intre membrii si ocazional realizarea unor conferinte de amploare, simpozioane. Unul din planurile de viitor este reprezentat de un program de training Java destinat celor interesati (elevi, studenti, etc), mai multe detalii la momentul oportun.

Parteneriatul realizat cu Facultatea de Stiinte confirma caracterul independent si ideea de comunitate, iar activitatea principala se va desfasura la sediul facultatii (Str. Ion Ratiu Nr. 5-7, Sibiu, 550012 - Google Maps). Seminarii, prezentari sau conferinte se pot desfasura si in locatiile puse la dispozitie de companiile sau grupurile partenere.

Incurajez implicarea companiilor IT (si nu numai) in sustinerea activitatii acestui grup. Un astfel de parteneriat ar aduce avantaje ambelor parti implicate atat la nivel de promovare cat si profesional (poate chiar cu un plus pentru o companie / grup IT, promovarea intr-un astfel de grup si mai departe prin intermediul acestuia, reprezinta o oportunitate foarte buna de a te face cunoscut si de a creste nivelul de imagine...)

Doresc sa multumesc tuturor celor care au sustinut si sustin aceasta initiativa si celor care m-au ajutat cu informatii si detalii despre infiintarea si activitatea acestui grup.

Toti cei interesati pot contacta grupul la jug.sibiu@gmail.com sau direct prin intermediul meu.

Link-uri aditionale :
- Sibiu JUG Google Group
- Sibiu JUG Community Facebook