Explicitly and without apology a marketing vehicle MaryMaryQuiteContrary

Back to the Sun Developer Advisory Council...

Mark Bauhaus just gave a presentation on Java Web Services.

Love the guy. But he should turn off his phone before he gets up to give a talk. I'm sure he'll do that going forward :-)

He talked about the J2SE 1.5 release -- codenamed Tiger -- with it you'll see 20-60% faster start-up. "We've got the fastest virtual machine on just about all platforms -- still working a few." Which would those be, Mark? ;-) I think we all know the answer to that.

One of the key features of the new release is auto update on the runtime. he-who-must-not-be-named will love that (my husband; but i'm not supposed to talk about him in this space for those of you who aren't regular readers). Let's just say he got a little frustrated having spent some time trying to download the JRE.

We feel your pain, people. We're on it.

OK... then Bauhaus got into a pretty interesting conversation about where Java started out (open, portable applications) to where it's headed with Java Web Services (open, portable data). He talked about how J2EE has deep support for web services standards including SOAP, XML and so on. (not going to get into acronym soup with you here; you know the list).

So here's when Bauhaus drew a line in the sand, that provocative fellow. 

As we continue to bring Java and Web Services together, Web Services need to apply the same kind of discipline to compatibility that has been hallmark to the Java platform.

To that end (or at least in that direction), Sun has made available for free the AVK.

now what's your call-to-action here...

1. Go get the AVK for free

2. Did you know, my developer friends, that if you can get a free SunFire V20z by joining the Sun Developer Network.

check it out.

i know you love free stuff as much as i do ;-)

mary

Had to dash back over to the SICC to get something.... they're putting the finishing touches on the conference. Took a quick pic for you... 

At the Sun Developer Advisory Council today, Glenn Weinberg gave an overview of Sun's Linux strategy. Since this is a question I've heard many-a-folk ask, I wanted to share what he said... it's very simple

• Sun's Linux strategy is Red Hat and SuSE
• We read the customers loud and clear when the told us eliminate Sun Linux. Outta here.
• We offer service and support worldwide
• Our strategy translates into instant ISV capture
• And instant multi-platform
• We're committed to having the latest Sun Java on all distributions
• All Sun SW will run on all Solaris and Linux distribution
• We're working all the angles to promote Linux compatibility

Now, let me tell you people, there are some hot, hot, hot developments bubbling in this space. I have to leave it to you to read the tea leaves. But you want to watch this space, let's just put it that way.

One way to keep up-to-date on the Solaris operating environment is to join the Software Express for Solaris program. This program is your finger on the pulse of new features and technology that is getting rolled into Solaris. And here's the best part: it's free.

love it.

catcha later.

mary

Snagged Curtis Sasaki, VP of Java Desktop System. He's attending the Sun Developer Advisory Council, which I'll be covering for you.

Asked him what's his message to developers on Java Desktop System.

His answer:

Test on it. It's easy to do.

Localize in Chineese

The marketing opportunity is huge.

what else do you need to know?

mary

 

I don't think so.

I'll be making some time to see the sights and report back to you on the cultural front, to be sure. My initial impressions are really positive. This city is so orderly and clean. The people are friendly. It's been nothing but a fabulous experience so far.

OK. there is one thing that kinda bothers me. Spitting. I see a lot of spitting and it kinda makes me feel a little yucky. Maybe it's a cultural thing. But I was very pleased to see this sign:

(you guys just go ahead and send that one into Jay Leno. I provide these tidbits to you as a public service FOC)

Also, I just wanted to tell you it is a glorious day in Shanghai. Bright sunshine, in stark contrast to the overcast and dreary weather we've had since I got here. I'm still jet lagged so i'm getting up really, really early. This morning I went out for a run. It was so wonderful, you guys. (only problem is that my face turns all red when i exercise and it takes an hour to go back to its normal color. thankfully, i don't exercise all that frequently, so it's not so much of a recurring problem.)

Today I'm planning to spend most of the day at the Sun Developer Advisory Council.

Also, I have a special, super-mondo huge interview scheduled for later this afternoon but not telling who it's with until after it happens.

I know, you're dying to know... OK. here's a hint... keyword: ponytail. 

:-)

mary

 John Gage is Sun's Chief Researcher and Director of the Science Office (in addition to overseeing Sun's relationship with world scientific and technical organizations). Many of you might know him as the host of JavaOne. This is one smart guy and definitely qualifies as a techno celeb.

well, check out what I got in my in-box:

translation: "Members-only Breakfast with John Gage"

Inner Circle and Executive Boadroom program members, that is.

Guess who happens to be members of both?

;-)

you know it.

membership has its privileges.

The breakfast is in Thursday.

oh, and here's a picture of me and John. that's me, on the right. :-)

mary

i know you've heard me talk about the Network Computing quartelry launch event... really cool experience... live chat with Scott McNealy et al... well, i signed up for an email reminder (not that i really needed one) and i got this notification... just thought i'd share with you...

NOTICE: We have adjusted the timeline for our agenda. See new timing below. Be sure to tune in!

Dear Mary Smaragdis:

Here is the reminder you requested: Sun's Network Computing 04Q2 Web event is less than a week away!

Tune in Tuesday, June 1, 9:30 a.m. PDT at www.sun.com/nc as we unveil technology innovations that can help you deliver network services rapidly and affordably.

Don't miss this informative and interactive agenda:

	9:30 a.m. PDT (find my time zone): Get the latest news and product information and view videocasts of Sun executives and technology experts
	1:00 p.m. PDT (find my time zone): Join CEO Scott McNealy and other Sun executives for a live audiocast as they showcase the next wave of network computing solutions
	3:30 p.m. PDT (find my time zone): Ask questions in a live chat with Scott McNealy and other Sun executives

Take advantage of our quarterly innovation payout! Tune in June 1 for Sun's Network Computing 04Q2 Web event.

Can't make the live event? Go to www.sun.com/nc anytime after the event and access it on-demand.

Viewing requirements...

If you have any questions regarding this e-mail, please send a message to web-event@sun.com.

Thank you,

Sun Microsystems

if you want to sign up for a reminder yourself, go to http://sun.com/nc.

catcha later...

mary

Tracked down John Wetherill, Java developer extraordinaire and all-around-good guy...

he was hard at work in the nerve center of the Pavilion floor.

Talked to him about what he was working on...

And here's another MaryMaryQuiteContary blog exclusive... attendees at the SunNetwork Shanghai show will have the chance to win some fabulous prizes in a Lucky Draw game.

Numbered ping pong balls chosen at random?

Are you kidding? This is a Sun conference. 

Java.

John built an animated wheel of fortune application using Java 2D. When I was talking to him about it, he started going into some stuff about "transparency" and "images" and while I like to think that i can talk the talk with the techno savvy, truth is i can't really... so i told him so and he nodded in that knowing kind of way.

Anyway, the attendees don't even know about this yet, people.

I promised exclusives and I deliver.

I'll work it and see what else I can come up with.

mary

I'm over at the SICC this morning. That's the venue where SunNetwork Shanghai is being held. It's a hub of activity. 

In the first of (what i hope to be) many MaryMaryQuiteContrary blog exclusives, today we had an impromptu interview with Mike Miller of TWI Group.

 

Mike helped Sun ship all the equipment and supplies needed to put on the show, here at SunNetwork Shanghai.

Q: So how much stuff did you ship?

A: About 19,000 kilos (that's about 41,800 pounds or about 19 tons, depending on what kind of ton you're talking about)

Q: How many containers?

A: 89

Q: Slow boat to China?

A: Air.

Q: Oh?

A: Saltwater. It's bad for the equipment.

That Mike. He's not much of a talker ;-)

So I gotta go get some more scoop for you. stay tuned...

mary

I am in Shanghai! It's thrilling. There's just no other word for it. I just can't even believe it myself.

It took 24 hours to get here door to door. And man, when I got here I was zonked. It's a killer trip. I'm working hard to get over the jet lag so that I can be in tip-top shape to cover the conference for you.

Check out what I saw as soon as I cleared immigraiton:

I was so excited. Isn't that neat!

So SunNetwork is definately imprinting a mark on this very vibrant city.

This morning I went to the Convention Center to check everything out. They were still setting up and didn't let me in. (Normally, I would just work the angles and get in. Unfortunately, I'm not quite as good at working the angles when the guy I'm talking to doesn't actually speak any english. But I could see a ton of activity.

I'm very much looking forward to tomorrow because even though the Conference will not officially be open, I feel confident that I will manage to get in and give you an early sneak-peak on what's being planned.

That's all for now.

mary

well, in just a matter of minutes the cab is going to be here to take me to the airport. I'm going to Shanghai to cover SunNetwork Shanghai for you.

i've got so much to tell you but regrettably, i'm not packed.

so i actually have something that's in the urgent and important quadrant to do.

see you later.

:-)

mary

 Four things things:

1. I managed to get my name on the front page of java.net today. it's below the fold... way below... you actually have to scroll down all the way to the bottom... but when you get there you'll see my name in lights (of the hyperlink variety). do i work the angles, or what? and mind you, java.net has very high standards. indeed i tried to get this very blog hosted there. and while they told me that i'm an excellent writer and i have a very important perspective, and all that... well i didn't quite make the cut, actually. let's put it that way. but no hard feelings because i'm on the road to becoming a java developer (see item #4).

2. nobody's won Friday Free Stuff yet. come on people, get with the program. we're giving away stuff here.

3. SunNetwork Shanghai coverage starts tomorrow. You're going to get so much scoop. If there's one thing you know about me by now... I work the angles. And I'm going to make it my mission for the next 10 days to get as much scoop as possible and report it to you right here, I am. I'm going to do this as a public service. And also because I get paid to do it.  I told you I work the angles.

4. I am engaged in personal dialogue with the architect of Sun Java Studio Creator.  I know. Hard to believe. But true. I tapped into my 24X7 personal network and managed to find the identity of the top technical guy on the product that InfoWorld said is drawing rave reviews (the code name was Project RAVE. get it? RAVE. rave reviews. i just love that. i'm a corn ball, i know. but you can stop rolling your eyes. that's not polite.)

so you regular readers will recall that I am on a mission to become a Java developer. and it seems to me like Java Studio Creator is my ticket. Tens of thousands of people have downloaded the early access. Heck, there's even a Sun Java Studio Creator Newsletter you could sign up for. There's a whole community bubbling up around this tool. I'm telling you it's hot, hot, hot.

and let's put the cards on the table here. i want this community to embrace me as one of their own. i want to be a java developer.

and i now have affirmation that this goal is within reach. i received this personal assurance from the newest addition to the tightly knit, exclusive community of folks i lovingly refer to as techno celebs Robert (i get to call him Bob) Brewin, the architect of the Java Studio Creator product. here is the unedited transcript of my email exchange with him.

so Bob, i was wondering...

all these years that i've worked at sun, i've had developer envy (of the java variety).

i was thinking maybe Sun Java Studio Creator can cure me.

i got zero technical skills -- zero. (although i do own the entire Addison Wesley Java series because i worked the angles and got it for free. i've never actually opened any of the books. i just keep them on my bookshelf in case somebody wonders by my office...yeah, it's just that i work from home...not a lot of traffic in the halls, you know...)

do you think that i could use creator to actually build a java application? and if i built an application, that would make me a developer, right?? i'd be a bonified java developer, right?? and if i'm a developer, do you think that when i have meetings with engineering teams, they'd stop rolling their eyes whenever i talked?

mary

Well there you have it people. get on it. download the early access today.

mary

p.s. tomorrow i get to go on the field trip to the zoo with my oldest kid's class. kinda excited about it. so i'm going to be away from my desk in the a.m. east coast time, in case you send me email... i'll be delayed in resonding ;-)

That's right, nine years ago today Java and Duke were born.

It makes me giggle to think of James and comany going into labor and pushing.

But alas Duke didn't come out of the chute like my three kids did.

Nope...

Just as Athena sprang from the head of Zeus...

Let's just say today we celebrate the birth of a love child -- a love brain child.

What's the normal development for nine-year-olds anyway? Let's take a "look-see" and see if we're devleoping on track.

• favors active, highly-charged games and sports

i should say so evidenced by the game developers conference that happened last month... heck, there's a guy here at Sun, Chris Melissinos -- he's the Chief Gaming Officer. Look, the truth is that Duke can get extreme...

photo reprinted without permission from java.net

• becomes more interested in clothing and appearance

let's just say i've seen duke accessorizing with some pretty crazy stuff lately

• laughs at bathroom humor

no further explanation required.

• becomes self-absorbed and introspective

between me and you, that's nothing new.  

• is involved in informal clubs and small groups of the same sex

hey, is Duke hanging with boys or girls?

• begins to just sit and talk with friends

bean bags at javaone... those guys had this figured out a long time ago.

so we're spick and span and right on time. happy birthday! nine years. hard to believe.

(just make sure your resume doesn't say you've got 10 years java development experience, ok. you can thank me later)

mary

 OK. I've got a lot for you today but not a lot of time so we need to power through this one.

Road to SunNetwork Shanghai: Got my passport back from the people who charged me $131.84 to get a visa to China. I got the visa all right. But instead of  Mary Smaragdis it says Hary Smaragdis. can you believe that? needless to say i was not happy... but these guys assured me that it won't be a problem. Let's just hope i don't get stuck at the border, people. Hary. unbelievable.

Road to Java Developer: So i mustered up the nerve to email to the architect for the Sun Java Studio Creator... i'm still on this Java developer thing... i'll let you know if he responds.

now let's get right into what you've been waiting for... Friday Free Stuff*.

Today we've got the booth staff shirt from the 2002 JavaOne Conference.

It's been worn but is in pretty good shape. Since it's a used item, today I'm also throwing in this telephone cord thingy...

it's from the 2001 JavaOne conference. remember plugging your laptop into a phone to get email? man, have times changed. so maybe you won't actually use this, but it's a good momento to save and show your kids when they grow up... you can just toss it in the box with the 8-track tapes you've got in the basement.

ok... here's what you have to do to get it...

on Monday, Java and Duke

are celebrating their ninth birthday.

(don't worry, you haven't missed the party... we'll be doing a whole big birthday thing on monday... just check in with me again)

so in honor of the big birthday coming up, this week's Friday Free Stuff goes to the first person who emails me the code name of the team of programmers at Sun who gave birth to Duke.

soft ball. i'm too good to you guys.

and remember, Friday Free Stuff is not a contest. I select the person to whom i am going to give something that i personally own. i pay for shipping.

happy weekend!

mary

*exclusions apply: no Friday Free Stuff for Sun employees or people i know personally. sorry.

Sun Java Studio Creator, TTFNA (the technology formally known as) Project Rave is literally getting rave reviews.

this is hot, hot, hot, people. many, many, many, many of you (not sure i'm allowed to say the number and i don't want to get into trouble) have already downloaded the early access.

don't be the last one standing against the wall when they pick the kickball teams, folks. download today. use it today. be among the first ones chosen.

here's a quick primer... this thing really quite revolutionary...

drag and drop java development based on 100% java technology standards with templates for application architectures and automated app server configuration and deployment... hey, wait a minute... that means i could design, code, build, run and debug all in one visual tool... why, if i did that you know what that would make me... a bonified java developer!

putter, putter my heart goes a-flutter

stop laughing... i can too be a java developer... stranger things have happend -- Sun and Microsoft are working together, aren't they? i mean we.

:-)

mary