Java FX Preview SDK released!

JavaFX Preview SDK is a preview release of the JavaFX platform.

Is it free? The JavaFX Preview SDK is free for download. It is released under a 60 day evaluation license.

Target Audience? This release is aimed at web scripters and early adopters who want to familiarize themselves with the JavaFX technologies and tools. The SDK also includes Project Nile, a suite of tools and plugins, to enable scripters to incorporate and manipulate graphical assets from design tools like Adobe® Photoshop® CS3 and Adobe® Illustrator® CS3.

Contents of SDK:

• The JavaFX compiler and runtime tools, 2D graphics and media libraries.
• Netbeans IDE 6.1 with JavaFX
  
• Project Nile
• Java Runtime Environment 6 Update 10 Beta release
  

Key differentiators of Java FX Preview SDK:

• Author rich internet applications
• Break free from the browser
• Designer-Developer workflow
• Simple, declarative language for creative minds
  

Multimedia in Tutorials

Multimedia in Tutorials

Don't you think it is time that we add a touch of multimedia to our Java Tutorials and other Java guides?

Below is a small demonstration of the procedure to validate the JRE in your system. This demo represents the validation procedure found in the Java Upgrade Guide.

Of course we are not going to replace all of the content with multimedia examples, but only to supplement the existing content. The team might include small bits and pieces of such presentations, including screen casts, in the tutorials and/or guides to demonstrate tasks or illustrate concepts. Java Tutorial team needs your feedback/comments/suggestions before implementing the same.

What do you think? As a novice or a budding Java programmer do you think these presentations would enhance your understanding of the subject in a better way?

Sun Techdays 2008-09 kicked off !

Sun Tech Days 2008-09 kicked off !!

Much awaited Tech days events of Sun Microsystems kicked off on 29th September with its first Sun Tech days event at Brazil. During my recent visits to western part of India many students showed great interest and enthusiasm over these annual events even before they kick started. Some of  the students were not aware of these events happening in India. For those of you who are not aware of an Indian event, it is going to happen in Hyderabad this time too and it will be from 18-20 February 2009 as of now. Stay tuned to this blog and the web page for more info. Students might get some discounts every year. If you are a SDN member then you are lucky too. If not, register yourself today and become a proud SDN member of Sun Microsystems + avail plenty of benefits.

MySQL Conference & Expo 2009

Call for Participation

Call closes midnight 10/22/2008 PDT.

MySQL Conference & Expo will be held April 20-23, 2009 in Santa Clara, CA. This year will focus on in depth conference tracks exploring: Architecture and Technology, Business and Case Studies, Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence.

If you are a:

• Developer or DBA at an established or up-and-coming company
• Strategist, business developer, CTO, CIO
• Technology evangelist, scout, entrepreneur pushing the enterprise boundaries
• Researcher, academic, programmer

If so, you are invited to submit a proposal to lead sessions, panel discussions, and tutorials at the 2009 MySQL Conference & Expo. The submission deadline for all proposals is midnight (PST) October 22, 2008.

Some of the conference tracks include:

• Architecture and Technology
• Business and Case Studies
• Data Warehousing and Business Intelligence
• Cloud Computing
• Java
• LAMP
• Migration
• MySQL Cluster and High Availability

More connections with Students

Last Friday, I had one more opportunity to connect myself with 50 more students. This time it was an Autonomous College's Industrial visit to our Sun India campus. All of these students are from final year Master of Computer Applications course. This program was organized by Sun - India Engineering Center(IEC) University Initiatives team. It lasted for about 3 hours. Suvendu gave introduction to students about Sun technologies, Srinu boosted the confidence of students with some tips on career development, Nilesh Shirbate talked on Open Solaris and Mahipal presented NetBeans demo. I gave presentation on latest Innovations and Opportunities around Java technology. I also talked about the importance of SDN registrations, benefits of Sun Certifications and introduction to Java Tutorial and DocWeb projects at Java.net.

Students were really enthusiastic and curious to know more about Sun technologies. There were several queries in almost all the sessions. I was amused to see the interest levels of these students as they brought some papers slips filled with full of questionnaire on Java. As usual these students also wanted to know the advantages of Java over dot Net platform. One student was interested to know more about RMI security policy. The lists of questionnaire they brought were exhaustive ones and we had to ask them to send their queries to our email ids due to want of time.

This was one more experience with some exciting and enthusiastic bunch of students who already had some basic knowledge of most of the Sun Technologies. It was interesting and exciting for us too spend more time with them and guide them in the right direction for their final semester projects and career in Sun's open source technologies.

Mobile, Media & Embedded Developer Days

Java Mobile, Media & Embedded Developer Days Conference
Sun Santa Clara Campus Auditorium, California, USA
January 21-22, 2009

This conference is devoted solely to the technologies of mobile, media, and embedded Java platforms and is a unique opportunity for content developers of intermediate and advanced skill levels, platform developers, and technical experts at product companies, device manufacturers, and service providers to get introduced to open source Java ME, the community, and to join in and collaborate.

• Two-day immersion in mobile and embedded Java technology with an information-packed agenda in the following presentation formats:
• Technical Sessions: Detailed presentations by industry leaders, 45 mins (or more, to be defined) in length
• Lightening Talks: 5 minute presentations on projects or other interesting topics, with 5 extra minutes possible for demos. These are done in the main track in front of the full audience and give the speaker a way to present or pitch a project or idea to a big crowd.
• Hands-on Talks: Interactive hands-on talks working with other attendees, showing demos, etc.
• Poster Presentations: Displays, demos, etc, displayed in the lobby, staffed during breaks and special sessions.
• Panel Sessions: Panel of industry experts discussing what you want to know
• Fishbowl: What conference would be complete without a fishbowl where the entire audience gets involved
• Networking and brainstorming opportunities
• Community Social Event
• Access to archived sessions and content after the event (subject to technical and organizational limitations)
• Continental breakfast and box lunch each day

Java Tutorial Portal and Docweb

Have you thought of improving the content in Java Tutorials or contributing code samples to it? Here is a Tutorial community portal where you can contribute a lot. If you have not seen the portal, click https://javatutorials.dev.java.net

You can get connected to wikis, forums, blogs, etc. through this portal. You can also do the following through this portal:

• Discuss the Java Platform Tutorials — both the Java SE Platform and the Java FX Platform.
• Share your modifications and additions to the Java Tutorials.
• Share your example code.
• Brainstorm about what you'd like to see in the Java Tutorials.

Also, there is one more interesting project called Docweb for those who like to contribute to the API documentation tools. Have a look at it @ https://docweb.dev.java.net

Code For Freedom is Back !

Code for Freedom is back! 

Sun India announces the second edition of the Code For Freedom (CFF) contest for 2008.

This year, we have a new format which is designed to generate enthusiasm for open source software technology and to encourage academic developers to contribute software applications that demonstrate use and adoption of various Sun open source technologies. The contest is open to any college student in India and provides many exciting prizes. Students are required to submit complete project implementations that use at least two Sun open source technologies and are developed using either Netbeans or Sun Studio. For more details, please visit http://in.sun.com/codeforfreedom.

Standard/Fixed/Current URL for Java API specs!

Are you tired of noting down or bookmarking several URLs for Java APIs? Each time a Java release is available, you might be searching for the current URL pointing to the latest APIs. You can get put full stop to these problems now with the release of current URL for APIs from Sun Microsystems. The following URL is now live:

http://java.sun.com/javase/current/docs/api/index.html

The above URL always point to the latest version of Java API documentation. Since the latest version of Java API documentation is Java SE 6, it redirects you to the following URL:

http://java.sun.com/javase/6/docs/api/index.html

So, you just need to bookmark or remember or note down the current URL alone for Java API docs and forget about searching for latest releases. Whenever there is a new release of API docs from Sun Microsystems, the current URL would automatically redirect you to that new release.

Happy browsing through API documentation!

Students Central - A one stop site for students to connect to Sun!

Sun.com/students has officially arrived!

Check out Sun's new starting point for students, www.sun.com/students !

Student Central:  Sun now has a place for every student to begin when they come to sun.com!  Looking for technology?  No problem.  Searching for a job?  We gotcha covered.  Trying to find some classes?  We've got that, too.  Not sure where you want to go or what Sun has to offer you as a student?  Come find out!

This is the perfect starting point to find out just what Sun, as a company, has to offer students today.  Covering everything from technology to Eco-responsibility, jobs to social media, this is the first student page that tells the Sun story from a student perspective.  Come by and check it out, but be sure to come back as this page will evolve along with Sun's student offerings!

Some of the features include: 

• Sleeker look and feel (less corporate) 
• Eco Corner
  
• Student Lounge - a place for students to hang out and socialize with each other.
  
• Students in social media (Connect via Orkut, Facebook, Digital Diaries, etc.)
  
• Blog links to student-focused information (not always about Sun!)
  
• Play games
  
• Tips & Tricks
• Latest Events Calendar

SL 110 to 110 colleges of VT University

My Managers gave me one more opportunity through SLS team to give 4 day sessions from 9th Sept through 12th Sept, on Java Fundamentals and NetBeans. This time I did not have to travel anywhere out of Bangalore. All of these sessions happened in the VT University studio at Bangalore. These sessions were spread across four days, 2 hours each covering most of the SL 110 course - Fundamentals of the Java Programming Language. One inclusion to this course curriculum was NetBeans. All these sessions were broadcast live to 110 colleges throughout the state of Karnataka using EDUSAT satellite network. On each day, VTU allowed 30 colleges to participate in interactive mode, while the rest of the colleges were in listen only mode. Total number of students who attended this course would be around 2000+. All of them are expected to complete SDN registrations within this month.

I could explain to students on how to compile and run Java programs, usage of classes, how to use variables, operators, decision constructs, objects, API specifications, loop constructs and showed them most of the Java examples using NetBeans IDE. I dedicated last day's session for NetBeans IDE and gave presentation and demo on how to use NetBeans for developing Java applications and for C++ language. Also, I could explain to students about the benefits of SDN registrations, Sun Certifications and the need for their involvement in open source projects including docweb project and Java Tutorial portal at java.net.

It was a unique experience for me as I could not see the students in front of me all the time. Sometimes I could see the students only during question hours. Students asked some queries around comparison of Java language with C++ language, details about Sun courses, usage of main( ) method and classes in java programs, and a few queries around Netbeans IDE benefits and usage. I conducted Quiz on each day with 10 questions each. One prize per quiz will be given to the winning students. On the final day, I received a Memento appreciating my participation, with my picture on it, signed by Vice-Chancellor of VT University. Indeed, a satisfying experience and pleasurable memory to cherish.

Reaching out to students

Inspired by my Managers and our IPG/Software goals, I took the opportunity (in partnership with SLS) of reaching out to students with info on cool innovations and opportunities around Java. I gave four seminars in Baroda and Surat cities (western part of India, 800 miles from Bangalore) on 26^th and 27^th of August 2008 at the following institutions/universities: 

1. Parul Institute of Engineering & Technology, Baroda, Gujarat state.


2. Science Dept., MS University of Baroda, Baroda, Gujarat state.
   


3. Sarvajanik College of Engineering & Technology, Surat, Gujarat state.


4. Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat, Gujarat state.

Some numbers to cheer: 330 students attended. 300 SDN registrations received.

My task of spreading the innovations in Java, started at 10:30am on 26^th morning with my visit to NIIT centers in Baroda. All the three NIIT centers and four college authorities gave me a Royal welcome with flower bouquets whenever I visited them. There was a drizzle all day in Baroda. I met Java faculty and few students of NIIT centers and gave some tips on how they can encourage students to learn Java. It was interesting to know from the NIIT faculty about students' queries regarding Java language. One debatable query which kept recurring throughout my trip was the comparison between dot Net platform and Java platform. Well, I got a sense of pride about Java technology whenever I answered this question.

It was half an hour drive by car to Parul college which is at the outskirts of Baroda city. Sprawling campus of Parul college spread across some acres was a pleasing destination to stop by and deliver my seminar. My first seminar on Java started around 1:45pm at Computer science auditorium, Parul college. Around 80 students attended the seminar and all of them registered with SDN after seminar. Talking about features in Java language, to start with, I showcased Java FX code samples and Netbeans IDE. At least 5 students were aware of the Java language features, Netbeans and Java FX to an extent. Most of the students who attended the seminar were from Computer Science engineering and IT background. I encouraged students to ask questions on Java and other Sun technologies and also gave away some goodies (Open Solaris DVDs) to the students who answered my queries. None of the students are using Solaris in this campus.

After completing the seminar at Parul, NIIT folks and myself drove back to Maharaja Sayajirao (MS) University campus to address Science students. The audience for this seminar was from Computer Applications (CA) stream. There was lot of quality and standard among these CA students compared to engineering students. I found one Microsoft student partner in this campus. MS University is known for its high standards, it boasts of high placements and international quality in education. It was reflected to an extent in these students. There was enormous enthusiasm and interest among these students to learn new technologies. Best part of this campus is that all these students claim to be fans of Java.

Most of these students from CA dept. of MS University use Java Tutorial fourth edition book for learning Java. They were excited to know that I am one of the co-authors of Java book. Around 50 students gathered for this seminar even though it was informed to them a bit late. This time I gave away some perk chocolates as goodies for best answers as I had a limited stock of Open Solaris DVDs. I left one DVD with the faculty to be used later. Few students heard about Solaris but none of them ever tried it. Some students asked me few queries related to Apache/Tomcat thinking that they are Sun supported products. A point to note here is that they were not aware of any of our application development servers. They do not know of any other web server other than Apache Tomcat. I pointed them to some references and our documentation websites. Even the department Head said that they would be eager to include our technologies in their course curriculum if they are well informed. All the 50 students registered with SDN. After having some Gujarati snacks (Dal Pav & Bajji :picture below) at NIIT center, we rushed towards Railway station to catch a train to Surat, a port city. It was 2 hours drive by train to Surat.

My day started with visiting Surat's NIIT center at 10:30am on 27th morning. I spent some time with NIIT Java faculty answering their queries on Java language. My first seminar of this day was at Sarvajanik Engineering College, Surat. A point to note: NIIT conducted a Sun certification drive last year in Surat city and 10 of their students from Surat got Sun certified. I enjoyed talking to these students here @ Sarvajanik college. Students at this college are really bubbly and enthusiastic audience. Most of these students have been working in Java SE in their projects at their 3rd and 4th year courses and they like Java very much. They claim that they know Netbeans but some queries were around creating user interfaces in Netbeans. They were happy to know about Matisse in Netbeans. I encouraged them to dig deep into Netbeans and referred them to netbeans.org.

Around 140-150 students were eager to attend the seminar in Sarvajanik college, but the auditorium accommodated only 120-130. We received around 120 SDN registrations from this college. Heads of Computer Science and IT departments were excited after the seminar and called the seminar as a great interactive talk with students :-). I was surprised initially, but when students were not leaving the auditorium even after my 90 minute presentation, then I felt that we got a terrific audience here for Sun technologies. Great to see such an intense passion and excitement students develop these days on languages/technology in India. Hitherto, we used to see such passion only and only for Cricket game. Most of the students were familiar and are using Open Office. They installed it across all systems in their labs. Students expressed their gratefulness to Sun for making Star Office free.

We drove towards SV NIT campus, Surat. This campus is widespread and is one among 20 such premier engineering and technology institutes (NITs aka RECs) in India. I came to know that we had a Campus Ambassador from this NIT last year. They have two strong student campus representatives who are well versed with Java and dot net technologies. Other than these two final year students I did not find any one else to be aware of Java technologies, the reason being, they learn about Java language only in 3rd year of their four year course and that too Core Java alone. ACM chapter has a strong presence in this campus and they are going to conduct a conference soon in the campus. An opportunity for us to showcase some of our technologies there by being sponsors to some events.

Around 50 students attended and listened to this seminar intently in SV NIT. They had some basic questions related to Java language, OOPS concepts, comparison with C++, reason for using Coffee cup in Java, etc. All 50 students filled up SDN forms and some of them were eager to know about internships with Sun. Only one Campus placement representative (student) is aware of our Sun Techdays event that happens annually in India. I did not find anyone else in other three campuses being aware of Sun Techdays events. Of course, their SDN registrations might help in the coming days. I explained the benefits of SDN subscriptions and Sun certifications to students in all my seminars.

I concluded all my seminars with an illustration referring to the awareness and power of the term 'Java' in deep down South Indian remote villages. Illustration goes this way: "It was an incident that took place with one of my ex-colleagues' relative who is an illiterate old farmer. When my colleague proudly claimed that he works with so and so company in computers, to his astonishment, this farmer asked my colleague whether he is working in Java or not. When the answer was no and why, this farmer told my colleague of how he heard of many people in that village saying that you earn lots and lots of money if you work in Java". No wonder why our stock ticker was changed to 'JAVA'.

I would say that it was an enriching experience (and a bit challenging) altogether, in spending time with students and spreading our message across.

- Jacob Royal

Java FX Resources

Few Resources on Java FX:

• Documentation wiki on Java FX :
  http://infobot.sfbay/wiki/javafx
  

• One more article on Java FX Mobile: 
  http://www.artima.com/lejava/articles/javaone_2007_jacob_lehrbaum.html

• https://openjfx.dev.java.net/Getting_Started_With_JavaFX.html -
  *JFX for swing programmers
  
  
  
  In the above url, you can also see some code references to
  original F3 too. *  
  http://java.sun.com/javafx/

• http://www.sun.com/javafx
  http://www.openjfx.org/
  http://www.sun.com/software/javafx/script/index.jsp
  http://www.sun.com/software/javafx/mobile/index.jsp

Virtual Computer

http://www.bloxtr.com

I just created my account and played around.

This virtual computer looks interesting. Not
sure up to what size they would allow you store. They are using eye OS
open source platform here and it supports all Office files too.

Sun Techdays, Hyderabad, India

Sun organized its 10th anniversary of Tech days at Hyderabad from 27-29 Feb 2008. Though I could not attend it this time due to personal commitments, some of my colleagues who witnessed this event shared their rich experiences in blogs.

Apart from regular sessions for two days, this event had bonus Community days as Netbeans day, Open Solaris day, Glass Fish day, University day etc.

IPG conducted some quiz competitions on Java/Netbeans/Glassfish and distributed Java Tutorial and other SMI press books to winners. IPG had an exclusive booth this year too.

Read on the experiences of Shripad, David, Alan Somerer, Geetha at IEC-IPG's blog