torsdag 9. september 2010

Session 1 : Emergent design

(btw, sorry about the delay. in contrast to my work, I don't always deliver on time! apologies aside .. here is the first one...)


Holding the lecture: Neil Ford

So he has a page on this topic;
Evolutionary architecture and emergent design : investigating architecture and design

Ok, let's start off by saying, I was looking forward to this one. Not only being the first of the sessions, but also with Neil Ford, whom I've never seen, but only heard good things about. That being said, I did enjoy it. Sort of.

It was basic. Is that ok to say? It should be. I'll sum it up in the end.

The tagline "There are things we do not know we don't know" was the red line through the talk.
In bullet form I'd say he says this is the problems;
  • software is changable, not like hardware. it's soft. this is the cause of the problems that might emerge.
  • software we produce has two parts that can be changed, but some stuff is harder to change than other. architecture is harder to change than design choices.
  • don't build lots of layers for extension that can be built on later. sometimes you create a generic obfuscation and sometimes you add complexity to something that might be simple.
There are ways to get out of the problems by:
  • postpone decisions as long as you can. if you wait until you really have to, you can make the right decision easier. it's all about what you know. 
  • fix stuff right away. waiting will only make it worse. you know it. I know it.
  • try to take metrics from the complexity and usage of your code. the combination of these factors might give you an indication for what you ought to fix.
  • write tests when writing code. your code will get a structure that might save you from making mistakes.
  • make use of patterns, and try to find places where you've repeated yourself. 
  • time spent early on design costs money and is prone for errors

There was more, but all in all, this is what I got out of the session. My memory might be playing tricks with me as well, since it's been a whole day since I saw it. But all in all, I found the session a bit basic, and I feel I've heard this in some form or another over the last years repeatedly.






tirsdag 7. september 2010

JavaZone 2010 - introduction day #1

Welcome welcome, small and big to the event of the year! Forget about christmas, birthdays, midsummers eve and your grandfathers 80th aniversary; this is the one that counts.

About 2000 people are now on their way to Oslo Spectrum. There will be music, coding, bullshit and sessions. Over the years javaZone had numerous crazy stage shows performed by some insane people; Pain solution, Cirkus cirkör, Rammsund etc. It's always some cool show. I'll post some pictures after we're done.
(note: this year they haven't invited insane people, but rather asked companies to form garage bands, and they will be the entertainment. I'm skeptic, but I will keep an open mind.)

JavaZone first released a trailer to this years event. Someone ripped it and put it on youtube, and must have been viewed by more than 1 million ppl. Here's a link;

Java-4-ever trailer

then they followed it by a music video

Lady Java music video

Pretty professional! I think the split between ".net and java"-part is funny, even though I think the community is past this "conflict" by now.

I've planned to attend the following sessions the first day:

  • Seven cost-efficient ways to reduce your project overruns (or maybe I will try "Emergent design", all depends how full the room will get)
  • JRuby: Now With More J!
  • How we blew our shot at beating Spotify, spending two metric truckloads of cash doing it
  • Flying with Griffon
  • How to Defend Against the OWASP Top Ten Web Security Threats
  • 97 Things Every Programmer Should Know

Check out the agenda for more info. I probably won't be able to attend all of this, since I have other stuff to do here at the conference.

After the sessions there is club zone, and I'll try to cover that (we'll see if I bother).

In addition to being an attendant at the conference I'm also part of the crew organizing the event.
You can come and talk to me at the javaBin stand from 14:10-15:40 (on wednesday).

Well that's enough intro, I guess; Let the sessions begin!

søndag 5. september 2010

JavaZone 2010 coming up. 8-9th of September.

So after a couple of months in the cave, the grizzly awakens with renewed strength. Me being the grizzly.

The main java event in Norway of the year is approaching, and I'm going to be there. Not only be there, but also try to blog about every single session I attend. A tour de force in blogging as far as I'm concerned. You can expect all my posts to be sort of incomplete and unsatisfying on some level :)

Check back here on the 8th for the first post!
 
 
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