Got 127 cats points

Its seems that I got a high score as of July 25, 2008 on netCat http://qa.netbeans.org/processes/cat/65/participants.html, I may be the only one selected participant from the country Philippines but I manage to be competitive. Findings bugs and brain storming to file for enhancement on each in every release is quite difficult. Sometimes I file but then I got an email stating that my issues were DUPLICATE means that theres already one file that issues before me, huh! this is very difficult, in order for to find one, you must be creative and think something that could malfunction the IDE somehow to file unique issues. The Exception Reporter built-in on the new NetbBeans 6.5 really help us a lot for reporting

It seems like bugs is afraid of 60 cats who are very hungry, lurking and waiting to attack (joke...).

We are on the the milestone 2 release this month, Milestone 2 has a good feature on ajax debugger.

Below are the new cool feature for Java scripting for Netbeans 6.5 M2:

• Supported browsers
  • Firefox
• Add & delete breakpoints in JavaScript code
• View & navigate JavaScript Callstack
• View & navigate source artifacts
• Manage debugger session
• View local variables
• Set & delete watches
• View browser DOM in the IDE
• View CSS styles for DOM elements
• Monitor AJAX transactions
• J2EE Project integration
  • Debug Client Session: Run the project and launch a JavaScript debugging session in NetBeans, attached to the default desktop browser where the clienPublish Postt-side application is running
  • Source Mapping: Correlate a client-side application (browser DOM) identified by a URI with the corresponding source file in the J2EE project.

Plugging Quartz to Struts

I received one comment today about my post titled "Implementing Quartz to Struts", The comment ask on how to plug the Quartz to Struts so decided to make this little snippet tutorial for some other struts framework developer having this kind of case to benefit.

This pretty straight forward:

- In your struts-config.xml file, copy and paste the code below and change the schedule class name that you are using.

<plug-in
className="scheduleplugin.NewsLetter">
<plug-in>

Done, just a three line of codes in your struts-config to add. Start your web application and schedule will now trigger.

The Reviewer

I remember long time ago when I have a conversation with one of my friend which is very good and fluent in english both speaking and written. She said, everyday in her work shes manipulating 26 characters [a-z] making an article. I made a joke to her, good for you, you have a lot of choices 26 characters, In my world I've only known 2 characters, the zero and ones [0,1]. She just smiled... Documentation is one of the developers weakness...

On netbeans community, we have this documents tutorial that we need to profread and review to make sure it will still applicable and runnable on netbeans 6.5 version that is currently on milestone 1. The NetCat 65 was given an opportunity to select the list http://wiki.netbeans.org/NetBeansTutorialsForCommunityReview for review document, each document worth 5 netcat point. And so I decided to get one, I pick the Tutorial for Web Applications.

http://wiki.netbeans.org/NetBeansTutorialsForCommunityReview

not knowing that the steps are very long, When I open the page, whhheewww, this is a bloody walk through(hehehe). Since my name is already there, so I have no choice but to review it. I review the document 3 times and run on Netbeans 6.5 three times, it was 100% functional on NetBeans 6.5 development build 200807251401. Huh! that was a really pretty tough review.After I finnished the review I sent some comments to James(james.branam@sun.com).

So heres my comment and suggestions, I've seen that must change to the tutorial(Tutorial for Web Applications).

In Section "Creating a web project from the provided source files"

• In Step 1, "Select Web Project with Existing Sources" on 6.5 it was change to "Web Application with Existing Sources".
• In Step 7., There is no necessary to select for the root ($UNZIPHOME). The IDE automatically fetch the imported sources.

In Section "Adding the methods to process requests and to create a cookie"

• In Step 3, the phrase "Click Alt-Enter in the line with the error and notice that the IDE presents a suggestion of how to solve the error:

Pressing directly the Alt+Enter without positioning the cursor will not display the suggestion menu, So it must be rephase inorder for the shorcut keys(Alt+Enter) will work. I suggest to have this phrase below.

"Place the cursor in the error line with the light bulb on the left margin and press Alt-Enter.Notice that the ide presents a suggestion of how to solve the error:"

In Section "Creating the parameter files used to handle user input".

• In Step 3. The root directory("WEB-INF/docs/") was ommited.

Folder : WEB-INF/docs/parameters must change to Folder : parameters

In Section "Enabling the HTTP Monitor"

• In Step 4, "Runtime window" was change to "Services window" and "Start HTTP Server" was change to "Start"

That was all my comment and suggestion, I hope this will take affect soon, coz NetBeans 6.5 is almost in its final release. I marked the document...

The Build (How it does and what it brings)

It seems like Netbeans 6.5 getting hotter and hotter in every development build release. This week we releases 3 devevelopment build 200807221016, 200807240010 and just yesterday the 200807251401 which I download just now 50% on progress to be exact(heheheh). Each build brought new cool enhancement and user/developer experience whhhheeewww, it keep me excited and think always what I can test to the new build comming this week, I just cant wait to see the new innovation what it looks like and how it does.

Issues and Enhancement are properly handled with the NB dreamteam. QA participants (http://qa.netbeans.org/processes/cat/65/participants.html) are very passionate about each other idea, sharing and collaborating each other experience. The very interesting thing I notice that upon reading each other mail thread even if its not my domain, Ive learn something new that I never thought it could be woooww. I guess this is the benifit of working on the open source community projects, learning curve is very rapid, discovering new things, solution is just in the mail thread. Sometimes I may think that reading such kind of a like mail thread is the best materials to learn than reading a book that just tell you the straight forward process, but still we have to read books inorder for us to relate the buzzword that they are talking about(heheheh). I could remember one phrase that "Human knowledge belong to the world..."

So just for now. I have to go, my download is about to complete I need to clean-up my Operating System(OS) first to prepare for the installation of this new build, let me taste the new develoment build 200807251401...

"...How it does and what it brings..."

"Here we go again..."

We are now on the state of Community Acceptance Testing(netCAT) of netbeans 6.5. Everyday I am very excited opening my email to see all the reports and what is the progress on the project . It was really cool, reading all those netcat participant collaborating each other idea and so with my concerned they really pay attention to it, the community and the neatbeans dream team. I already had a lot submitted issues and feature enhancement

The build 200807170007 is really cool, it has an Excetion Reporter that we the QA participant can use to easily report any exception from the IDE itself.

New Cool Splash Screen was also release on this build.

Stay tune for this version of netbeans will surely ROCKS your world...

Here we go again...

Feature Highlights

NetBeans 6.5 is an update release defined by a relatively short release cycle and a targeted list of primary features, mostly notably in the area of PHP editing & debugging, Ajax dynamic page authoring, and database tooling. NetBeans 6.5 will build on features that were available in 6.1 from the main distribution or via update center. These include the JavaScript editor, Ruby & Rails tooling, jMaki, PHP early access and JavaScript debugger preview.

NetBeans 6.5 will continue to build on its core values -- the superior out-of-the-box experience and excellent support for Java SE/EE/ME platform features. Although not a primary focus of this release, incremental improvements will be made to the Java SE & EE tools infrastructure which will benefit the end user in the form of increased responsiveness and robustness.

NetBeans 6.5 will address some of the deficiencies in the Project system area to make it more flexible with respect to custom project structures. This should make it easier for users to migrate their existing projects to NetBeans.

As with 6.1, a set of pre-configured NetBeans distributions will be available, allowing users to tailor the download and installation experience according to the technologies they are most likely to need. With the emergence of first class tools for PHP in 6.5, a new configuration will be added to the download page providing an IDE environment optimized for PHP.

Native packages will be produced for Linux (Ubuntu, Debian, etc), and OpenSolaris IPS

NetBeans 6.5 will support GlassFish v2 ur2 (SJSAS91_UR2). The IDE will require Java SE 6 to run, although development of applications targetting previous Java SE versions will still be supported.

In addition to GlassFish v2, NetBeans 6.5 will bundle and support a limited release of GlassFish v3 targeted at web tier development currently known as "v3 Lite". Since v3 is not a replacement for v2, both appservers will be bundled with the Web/JavaEE and Full distributions. The GlassFish v3 Ruby runtime support will be bundled with the NetBeans Ruby distribution.

The UML toolset will undergo significant changes to replace the closed source graph library, Tom Sawyer, with the open source NetBeans Visual Library. A limited number of UI enhancements and optimizations will be included as a result of this migration.

The core platform in NB 6.5 will be compatible with the previous 6.x releases. All core APIs previously declared as _stable_ will be supported. However, certain changes to the Generic Scripting Framework (GSF) and Java Parsing API infrastructure may require incompatible changes in this area. Clients depending on the 6.1 version of GSF and the Java Parsing API will need to be updated to work with NB 6.5.

Im on NetBeans 6.5 (netCAT)

As I visit the netbeans CATS website.

http://qa.netbeans.org/processes/cat/65/participants.html

I am happy and honored that my name was there in the list, number 41 among 60 selected across the globe.I tried to find whose with me from the Philippines on the list but I found null. Huh! Its okay I will try my best to share all I've got. I already have the netbeans 6.5 milestone 1 installed in my PC. I am very excited to open the new release. It was in deed fast, faster than the previous release which was the very first thing I notice. And second is when I open the Open Project Dialog Box"", the Icon of the root project was change to the specific type of project see pic below.

and also the quick search under my menu bars.



Im sure there a lot of things to discover... and so im on netCAT... woooowwww...

The Master of Nothing

It has been said "The Jack of all threads is the Master of nothing"...

The below story or article if you prefer is just for fun and evaluation only for the said phrase.

One day there was a System Developer who applied for a IT position in a certain company whose business domain is Technology. The developer came from the company of none technology business. The developer puts all the skills he had in sequence where he is interested in HR form, After he fill them up he then scheduled for interview. At the interview room, the developer explain and described all the things that he have done and built. The interviewer now gave a pen and the whiteboard and site a problem case and ask the developer to write an Oracle PLSQL, the session is done with the topic still the Oracle PLSQL. Although the developer uses database for a long time, but then the developer was not expecting that the session will be more focus on database. Some of the PLSQL he wrote was wrong and he is aware , since he has a lot of technology running to all neurons in his brain. The system developer is really getting hard time remembering all the right syntax for PLSQL because he had only the pen and a whiteboard.

After the 30 minutes session, the system developer was given the change to ask any question. The developer now ask what could be the result of his interview and he asking for advice to further enhance his carreer? The interviewer tell the developer a passage "Jack of all Threads is the Master of Nothing" and they preferred the masters of something. Yes! exactly that was the perfect description of the developer.

Now lets try to tweak the passage...

Lets have a case scenario, a simulation problem. The current setting, is we have two database servers, one is Oracle and the other is the Domino server both of them running on linux platform. The requirement is pretty straight forward.

Requirement:

1. Build an interface(Jobs or an interface) that will communicate those two databases.

2. Push the data to domino and process and fetch back to Oracle and update the Oracle schema, Or vice versa.

see the figure below:

Now, We have a ORACLE PLSQL wizzard that could write a script and execute it with the blink of an eye even if it has a millions of rows. Oracle PLSQL wizzard only knows the structure of RDBMS database, she/he has no idea whats in the inside of Domino and of course PLSQL has a limitation and its beyond its capabilities so obviously that is IMPOSSIBLE to PLSQL Wizzard. Likewise we have a brilliant domino designer who could build a fantastic domino database. Domino designer only knows formula, lotus notes and java scripting and also only the structure of its domain . Still its IMPOSSIBLE.

How about working them together and exposes its own domain, yes its possible. but the questions is how long? do they can really figure it out? or one of them may become someday a master of nothing also because they have to learn each technology.

Now here comes the master of nothing. of COurse master of nothing knows lots of technology, lets just pretend he had been on Oracle, Lotus notes and core Java.To make the story short she/he just built a so called Java interface agent for simplicity that will hold as a bridge of communication between to those two database.And so the request is now then addressed.

Summary figure below.

Now which one will you prefer

the master of something who believe something is impossible

or

the master of nothing who believe nothing is impossible.

It seems like the three keyword sounds the perfect formula for the word innovation and it goes like this.

innovation = nothing is impossible;

And believe me the master of nothing could surpass any wizzard and the Gurus if he/she is going to focus on certain technology, Why? Obviosly the master of nothing has a lot of good techniques and concepts from the other technology. and she/he could combine and apply them to a certain technology he/she is working on and in the end as a result,it is some kind of hybrid concepts.

NetCat

Its 06122008 06:30am, saturday no work. but I waked up early with the book RCP opened at the right side of my face, I wanted to go back to sleep to continue my dreams but I couldnt remember what it is, maybe it was Garbage Collected since my stomach is Null this time (joke). I've decided to go to my office. 09:30 am at my cubicle I opened my email, got an email from Suns subjected "Welcome to the NetCAT 6.5 program!".

Dear NetCAT 6.5 applicant,

Congratulations! You have been selected to participate in the NetBeans 6.5 Community Acceptance Testing program. The response to the program announcement was very high again and the selection process was difficult at best, but your experience and testing offer met our selection criteria.

Best regards,
--
Jiri Kovalsky
NetCAT 6.5 Program Coordinator

WOOOWWW!!! And then I hurry to get log to my NB account I had now QA menu links...



Hope I can contribute lotz of idea and stuff this time. My download of nb 6.5 now is almost done.

For Loop (SE 6)

Iterating an object collection in Java SE 6 is straight forward.
below is the example.

Traditional form:

Iterator it = collection.iterator();
while(it.hasNext()){
Object o = it.next();
System.out.println(o);
}

SE 6:
for(Object o: collection)
System.out.println(o);

Java Generics in the Inside

You may ask how Java handle the Generics objects???

1. Source compiles into a class file.
- The generic class (eg. AnyClass <T>) is stored in name AnyClass.class and the <T>information is stored with it.

2. The 'new' command creates a normal object.
- The object constructed has one of the type information

3. Code is generated to access the object.
- Type checking is made at compile time to make sure the correct object type are used.

Worldwide Developer Conference in Manila (Summary)

Last June 17-19, I attended a Worldwide Developer Conference in Shangri-la, Makati, Philippines. Organized by the Sun Microsystems, the event gathered 15 selected countries. Such event only happens once a year, and our country was selected to take part and host the 3-day convention.

The highlight of the conference was the Open Source Technology and the language Java. Companies like AMD, Oracle, Elixer and Nokia were sponsors to the event. Formidable speakers were also invited, all of which came from Sun. Experts like Aisling MacRunnels, Chuk-Munn Lee, Sang Shin, Matt Thompson, Carol McDonald, Michael Li, Peter Karlsson, Geertjan Wielenga and many others all shared their expertise and knowledge. The three day conference was attended by more than a thousand IT specialists and students.

The first day of the convention was an interesting start since we were introduced and shown a demo of new version tools to build Java base application called Netbeans 6.1. What was more interesting was that the creator of the language themselves gave us a free tool to boost and extend the language to its fullest. The free tool was made possible to use either on a desktop, mobile and raging web based applications. Likewise, the tool is not limited to Java language alone since it can be used to create different types of UML, SOA, scripting for Ajax, C/C++, Python, JavaScript, PHP, Ruby, JRuby,Groovy and Scala

The convention continued on its second day with the discussion of Java EE’s new feature and the Web Server called Glassfish V2, the open source version of Sun Java System Application Server. Demos followed for Web Rapid development using language Ruby and JRuby on Rails framework. We were also introduced to the new feature on Groovy, implementing the Grails framework.

For the Desktop development side, they made a demo on Rich Client Programming (RCP) technique using Netbeans as a base platform. There was also a demo on the new declarative extension language of Java called JavaFX. A discussion also followed on the Top 10 feature of Java Standard Edition 6(SE 6) and some hot features of unreleased Java SE 7. Oracle also had its technical session about Coherence Distributed Memory Data Management Solution.

During the course of the discussions, each of us participants was given the chance to ask questions and share to everyone our views and opinions to the topics being discussed. It was indeed an interactive experience for all of us. The day wrapped up with a final discussion on Java EE support on Spring and Seam web frameworks.

Although the third and last day for us participants came, it did not kept us from being too excited and eager for more discussions and information sharing. The last day of the conference was filled with more exciting interactive discussions starting from Web 2.0 stuff building Rich Web Application using JMaki 1.0 and some Ajax related web toolkits. We also covered Java development for mobile platform, programming for cool devices using open source Java Mobile Edition (Java ME) and Phone ME stack. After we had our lunch, Elixer technology also gave a demo about their new Repertoire Business Intelligence (BI) 2.0 plugin support for Netbeans. New feature of Java Server Face (JSF 2.0) and Ajax with project WoodStock for web development was also discussed.

AMD also had their technical session about Optimizing for Quad-core Solaris Systems based on AMD Platforms. We were given a break for a few minutes and afterwards discussions started again. It included building Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) using OpenESB, BPEL and Netbeans as well as presentation of MySQL’s new feature.