I have been wanting to move to a linux based environment for java development for quite a while now. Many PROD servers I deploy to run on a linux distro. So testing configuration / code changes becomes easier when you have multiple DEV environments. I deploy to CentOS among other linux flavors. I have settled on the Open Suse 11.2 desktop. Here are some things I liked
- Open Suse managed to detect my Nvidia driver with Yast. I guess they teamed up with Nvidia to host a repository for linux drivers. I didnt have to download kernel sources or devels to enable dual monitor support (Which is otherwise required). Nice !
- PPP over internet setup was pretty easy. Kinternet and the Yast configuration settings together let me connect to the net with ease.
- Community support seems good. The Suse forums are alive and kicking.
Once again Sun has managed to miss the dead line for the SCJP Pus Beta certification. Last year Sun made an attempt to launch SCJP Plus but decided to delay it until JDK7 was launched. The SCJP plus BETA page has hence been changed to reflect the new BETA dates.
The new certification was supposed to change the way candidates took the exam by allowing them to code their way into earning their certificate. No more would the exam be served as one that has 100% multiple choice questions. Had the launch been a success candidates would have been confronted with coding problems, drag and drop questions and a reduced number of multiple choice questions.
The dead line to pick the candidates was February the 15th. That has been missed since none of the candidates were sent an email telling them about the status of their BETA exam. The exam was supposed to be launched by March 1st. This date has also been missed.
Oracle is now slowly beginning to re-brand Sun certifications. The certification hierarchy for EE 6 now aligns more with Oracle’s vision of certifications by introducing sub categories and clubbed certification packages ( you become a master when you complete all the certifications in a package ).
A detailed FAQ is now available on the Oracle blog about what changes are taking place and why. The things to look out for are
- The Sun brand of certification
- Procedure to buy exam vouchers
- Changes to certification objectives
- Changes to the procedure used to certify
The FAQ covers some of the points mentioned above. If you are preparing for an existing certification, there is no point waiting for changes. Like the fate of all Sun related projects, certifications will also evolve and time will tell what it looks like a few months from now.
Nautilus SVN, the SVN client for linux had moved to RabbitVCS a few months back. From what I have read so far, the new client, while plugging into the old Nautilus manager, performs much better and does not hang up when the number of files to manage is on the rise.
RabbitVCS differs from Nautilus by attempting to have a pluggable interface for many types of source control systems. So SVN is just the beginning. You can check out the screenshots and install it on your favorite linux distro. Here are a few teasers
RabbitVCS:
Commit with the Rabbit:
Sun has a wide range of certifications to offer. Ever since java EE6 was released, changes have been made to the certification hierarchy and content to reflect the new specifications. Sun is also offering a discount of 10% to those that register for training / certification updates by Jan 31st 2010. Here is a comparison of the certification hierarchies
Old hierarchy:
New hierarchy:
The new hierarchy provides paths that are more specialized than the ones before. For example you can be a JSF expert. Web service + security is another specialization. Combining these certifications together can also earn you the title of a “Master“.