The Java Super Heroes: Presenting Java-Man

Don’t forget, RealDolmen is partner of Devoxx 2010, so all next week you can drop by our booth to meet the Java Super Heroes, test your skills against them, talk to them and also, get your free copy of the Java City map as well as some other nice surprises!

As the last in the series of interviews with the RealDolmen Java Super Heroes, we present to you Java-Man!Java-Man is one of a kind. Together with his friends Super-J, Mega-Flex and JSF-Woman he is there to build powerful and perfect-fit Java solutions.

RealDolmen: Hello Java-Man, you are probably the most experienced Super Heroe we talked to this week, is this correct?

Java-Man: Yes, I think you’re right. I’m approaching the end of my second decade in IT and I must admit that I have quite a track record! I started out as a system administrator, then I became an expert in database management such as DB2 and now I’ve been active in Java Land for more than seven years.

RealDolmen: That’s very impressive. And still, you seem like you can’t get enough of the numerous challenges that lie ahead on the Java road?

Java-Man: Oh no indeed, quite the contrary: the longer I’m active in Java Land, the more intense it gets! I just love my missions of delivering modular, scalable, sustainable and robust Java solutions that provide user friendly access to data, services and business logic.

RealDolmen: What are the special powers and strengths you have to help customers with all these challenges?

Java-Man: Good question. Instead of immediately diving into the code, I always start out looking for those special needs and requirements that are always there, but usually not yet articulated and so lay there below the surface. If you don’t address these things early on, they become dangerous later in the project, so I find it very important to talk about these things in advance, before going into action and getting my hands dirty. This kind of interaction also helps me to better understand the world and problems of the end users and allows me to deliver only the best and most appropriate solution for them. Empathy and communication skills are essential for a Super Hero; hence I have invested a lot in improving and enriching these competencies over the years as well.

RealDolmen: It is clear that Super Heroes like you are real experts in your business. Yet, you appear to continuously look for ways to learn and improve your way of working?

Java-Man: That’s absolutely correct. I believe that Java Super Heroes have the duty to continuously invest in their own knowledge portfolio and to stimulate each other to do so as well as this will help the team to grow. Very important for the individual, the team and also our company, all operating in a world where knowledge is the key to success.

RealDolmen: So you guys do not stand alone, but work closely together, evolving and innovating?

Java-Man: Knowledge sharing, collaboration and leadership are corner stones for our Super Hero clan. These are indeed important criteria to get accepted into the team!

RealDolmen: Thank you, Java-Man for this interesting interview! Now go back in the field and act in heroic ways!

The Java Super Heroes: Presenting JSF-Woman

Although Java City sometimes can seem like it’s mainly a men’s world, there surely are also women with incredible powers.

JSF-Woman is such a female talent and young member of the Java Super Heroes clan. She only started two years ago, but her potential was soon discovered by Super-J and Mega-Flex who embraced her in the Java Super Hero team. JSF-Woman is young and ambitious. Her technical expertise in the JavaEE space are, simply put, extraordinary!

RealDolmen: Hello, JSF-Woman. You look very nice today, but looking great aside, what other powers do you possess to vanquish your enemies and help your colleagues?

JSF-Woman: Thanks, you make me blush. In fact, I prefer to put fear in the hearts of my enemies! I do that mainly using my technical expertise. Go on, you can ask me any question about JavaEE and JSF technologies including Richfaces, Spring Hibernate, and many others. I just know every tiny detail of those technologies, right down to the core.

RealDolmen: Wow that sounds very cool. What kind of challenges do you overcome with this technical expertise?

JSF-Woman: My primary mission is to deliver JavaEE projects within time and budget, according to the specifications. I always claim responsibility to make sure that the team delivers at the highest quality. I make sure that the team kills every bug that I detect and that everyone is capable of doing it independently.

RealDolmen: Does independently mean that you have to coach team members as well?

JSF-Woman: That’s exactly what I mean. Although I sometimes expect everyone else to be a Super Hero as well Unfortunately though, that’s not always the case when working with third parties.

RealDolmen: How to you tackle this problem?

JSF-Woman: It is not really a problem; that’s why we are Super heroes after all! I always make sure that we develop long-term solutions instead of quick and dirty fixes, even if the application is already in production. This way self-confidence grows within the team, but also the customer will gain confidence in the team. And when the customer is happy, he will most likely come back for other things as well!

RealDolmen: You show lots of accountability. Is that an important characteristic of being a Java Super Hero?

JSF-Woman: Absolutely! A Java Super Hero must have the talent to take ownership in order to get to perfect solutions. Also, you must have a passion to grow additional knowledge and skills well beyond your comfort zone because Java Land is continuously changing. Fact is, different customers and situations often require individual approaches. As a Super Hero, it’s very important to understand this and to be proactive in behaviour communication.

RealDolmen: Thanks for your time, JSF-Woman. Do you have one last message for our readers?

JSF-Woman: Yes, we’re still looking for other Super Heroes to strengthen our team. Those who think they are worthy should visit us at Devoxx!

The Java Super Heroes: Presenting Mega-Flex

Yesterday we talked to Super-J. Today we give you Mega-Flex!

Mega-Flex is one of the mavericks in the Java Super Hero clan. He is not only a Super Hero in Java technology, but he also has special powers when it comes to design and development of highly interactive and attractive Rich Internet Applications using Adobe Flex technology.

RealDolmen: Mega-Flex, thanks for your time. How are you?

Mega-Flex: I’m doing well, thanks. I just finished a huge Flex development project for the French Community of Belgium, and now I’m helping out another customer in Media Land.

RealDolmen: Oh, nice to hear that you are a very busy man. How do you manage to do all this?

Mega-Flex: It is my primary mission to deliver only the best to customers. Producing creative, highly interactive rich internet apps is my passion and I always aim to do this with the highest possible quality right from the start. As a Flex Hero, it’s a piece of cake to write quality code in a test-driven manner. I love refactoring now and then to improve solutions and make them more maintainable.
On the other hand I also make sure that everything is documented, because achieving transparency in projects is my second goal. I want to make sure that everybody has a clear understanding what to do, understands his or her tasks and openly communicates about progress and issues to keep projects under control.

RealDolmen: That sounds like a lot of work. Do your special powers help to achieve all this?

Mega-Flex: Besides my Java, Spring and Hibernate expertise, I’m also an expert in Flex technologies such as (Spring) ActionScript, Mate, BlazeDS, Adobe Livecycle, etc.  And, being an honest, passionate and helpful team player, I’m always capable of getting the most out of my colleagues and project teams.

RealDolmen: Yes, I can already feel your enthusiasm and must admit it is most inspiring! Would you say that passion is another important quality for a Super Hero?

Mega-Flex: It is definitely an important start, but not enough though. To be a real Super Hero, you must have good communication skills, have a solid technological knowledge and most importantly, have the strong ambition to continuously learn and stay up-to-date.

RealDolmen: Do you maybe have one last inspiring slogan for our readers?

Mega-Flex: Be FLEXible and persistent!

The Java Super Heroes: Presenting Super-J

In our previous post, we introduced the Java Super Heroes who keep an eye on Java City in order to help companies and individuals with Java needs. As they are very busy and hard to catch, we will help you get to know them during the next couple of days. In a series of interviews with a limited selection of the in total 140 Super Heroes, you will have a better understanding of the personalities behind those masks, their brains and special powers that make them the Java Super Heroes.

Super-J is one of the experienced Super Heroes who is passionate about designing appropriate architectures of IT solutions in Java land and abroad. Besides being a trusted advisor for customers, he also coaches young and ambitious Super Heroes to live up to their potential.

In this first interview, we talk to Super-J.

RealDolmen: Hi, Super-J. Thanks for taking a couple of minutes for us.

Super-J: No problem, but let’s get on with it, as my assistance was required for another project.

RealDolmen: Ok, we just have a couple of questions for you. What is your mission as a Super Hero exactly?

Super-J: Well, in fact you already mentioned it: design the most appropriate IT solution for each business need. First of all, this means that technologies and IT development projects must actually solve a problem or create an opportunity. If that is not the case, the solution will be worthless. When there is no need, there should be no project. I am a strong guardian against these kinds of mistakes. Secondly, when assignments or projects are appropriate, the right technologies or products must be used. There are many dangers on decision road. A lot of inventive marketeers attempt to sell their products. I support customers with my experience and vision so that they do not blindly follow the next hype but think about what is really needed. Finally, I help people to think beyond the development of the solution. Who is going to maintain and support the solution?  Will it be scalable enough for future growth? Is it adaptable enough to support agile business needs?

RealDolmen: Wow, sounds incredible. How did you manage to obtain this level of expertise?

Super-J: Through interesting projects of course and by learning from my colleagues AND even from adversaries!

RealDolmen: And what are the special forces you developed during these assignments and battles?

Super-J: I hold the Java City Map.  I know all the important addresses and metro stations in Java City and I provide guidance for companies and individuals that have lost their way or who need to know where the road leads.

RealDolmen: Do you have a final word for our readers? For instance, how can they become a Java Super Hero like you?

Super-J: Simple, be passionate about technology. Have a strong feeling for business users and their needs. Know that a team goes beyond the boundaries of your own immediate team or department and above all, have fun!

Java City and the Java Super Heroes

Get this Java City map for free at our Devox 2010 booth.

Java City is not just any place.

Initially founded by ‘The Father’  as a small village, it soon grew to become a complex metropolis consisting of diverse communities, companies and cultures. Java City is a place where different ideologies, concepts and inventions co-exist, grow strong and thus contribute to the city as a whole. Using rock-solid technologies and high-tech components, Java City is home to several top notch companies and individuals that want the world to be a better place.

Although Java City is a dream come true for so many businesses and programmers, still numerous dangers lurk around the corner. Many adversaries want to undermine the community’s strength, others misuse or abuse the technologies and concepts as a result of a lack of knowledge. Still others just get lost in the maze of communities, frameworks, vendors and integrators and join the adversary’s team out of fear and lack of knowledge.

Luckily there are a few strong and brave men and women who really understand the nature of communities and how different groups interact. They know the different technologies and architectures used to build Java City.They know the Java City map by heart and are capable of providing guidance, support and advise. They hold the key to success for the city, its inhabitants and alliances.

They call themselves the Java Super Heroes, and they really are heroes!

Meet RealDolmen’s Java Super Heroes at Devoxx 2010 and let them help you find your way in Java City with your own copy of the Java City Subway Map. It will provide you with a clear overview of technologies and concepts available in Java City.

RealDolmen maakt verkiezingen eenvoudiger

We zijn in België wel wat gewoon als het aankomt op de regelmaat waarmee verkiezingen gehouden worden.  Bijna exact 1 jaar geleden gingen we ook naar de stembus, toen voor de parlementsverkiezingen.  RealDolmen bouwde speciaal voor De Standaard een toepassing om de resultaten inzichtelijk te maken voor haar online lezers.

Binnenkort op 13/6/2010 dus federale verkiezingen en ook dit jaar zal De Standaard deze toepassing gebruiken om de resultaten te visualiseren en RealDolmen gaan enkele puntjes aanpassen om dit eenvoudig mogelijk te maken.

Want hoewel deze verkiezingen dat misschien niet zijn, houden wij eraan om het leven van onze klanten wel zo eenvoudig mogelijk te maken…

Dolmens Java-specialisten aan het woord op JavaOne 2008

Van 6 tot 9 mei vindt in San Francisco JavaOne plaats, ’s werelds grootste jaarlijkse conferentie voor Java-ontwikkelaars. Alle grote namen uit de Java-wereld streven ernaar hun plaatsje te veroveren op de sprekersbank. En deze keer werden ook Dolmens Java-goeroes gevraagd. Stephan Janssen en Jo Voordeckers krijgen de kans hun kennis van de laatste state-of-the-art technologie te delen met de Java-community.

Lees hier het volledige artikel.