Take your Java skills to the next level. I saw a Twitter post with these words in it and it got me thinking. What is the next level?
It means different things to different people. When learning Java that could mean anything. Perhaps it is better to declare what is on offer, then people can determine if they think they need that skill or not. So my next project should be “Getting started building Java desktop applications”
Web services the what and why
What is a web service?
There is a simple definition for a web service but before I get to that I want to set the scene.
Before the emergence of the internet, computers would connect with each other over point to point connections. Initially, the two ends of the communicating systems would need to be written on the same platform in the same technology. Continue reading “Web services the what and why”
Roles in Software Development
There are many terms used within the software industry to describe roles that people perform. All of these roles contribute in some shape or form to produce and deliver software to a target audience.
Many of the terms used are arbitrarily assigned by organisations as they suit, and do not necessarily conform to any agreed to and understood definition. In fact, if you were to look these terms up in an attempt to define each you will find a varying array of explanations. Continue reading “Roles in Software Development”
What is a Good Developer?
I come across many articles that discuss what makes a good developer:
• What is a good developer?
• How to become a good developer?
• Things you must know to be a good developer? Continue reading “What is a Good Developer?”
What is Apache Ant?
ANT – Another Neat Tool
Ant is a tool developers use to package up an application to hand over to deployment. Continue reading “What is Apache Ant?”
The only right way to write code!
I was reading a blog the other day and the author was talking about writing a Java application in 10 minutes as a test. They finished off by saying that even with time to consider the solution they do not think they could improve upon it. When I looked at the code my first thought was “what a mess”, Continue reading “The only right way to write code!”
Code Comments
I am a firm believer in code comments among other things. So when I came across a blog post at http://blog.jooq.org/2013/12/04/when-source-code-comments-indicate-trouble/ talking about amusing comments coders leave in their code for people to find later I followed the links and found this: Continue reading “Code Comments”
Having learnt the language now what?
Lots of people set out to learn a language, take a course and then at the end of it don’t know what to do next. They don’t feel they are a coder, they still can’t do anything of substance. We all go through this. There is a chasm between knowing a programming language and being able to do things with it. The next step is to learn to write an application. Continue reading “Having learnt the language now what?”
What programming language should I learn?
If you ask this question, there will be an avalanche of responses. The responses will probably be of the type, learn this language because its new/it’s in demand/it pays well. 
Continue reading “What programming language should I learn?”
Why do you want to be a programmer? The raw ingredients
I see lots of posts around the web about people who are interested in learning to program. From the questions they ask you can tell they have aspirations to be the next best thing since sliced bread. While all of this unharnessed enthusiasm is great we all need a sense of reality. So, what does it take to be a programmer?
Continue reading “Why do you want to be a programmer? The raw ingredients”